A Southwest Airlines flight from Southern California experienced a sudden drop shortly after takeoff due to an alert about another aircraft nearby, resulting in passenger distress and injuries to two flight attendants. The plane descended approximately 300 feet in 36 seconds in response to the alert, which the FAA is now investigating. According to passenger accounts, the pilot mentioned a collision warning requiring an evasive maneuver, potentially involving a British fighter plane. Despite the incident, the flight continued to Las Vegas and landed safely, while Southwest Airlines is cooperating with the FAA to determine the specifics of the event.
Read More
An Army Black Hawk helicopter’s deviation from established flight paths near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) forced two commercial airliners to execute go-arounds, aborting their landings. This incident, occurring just three months after a deadly mid-air collision involving a Black Hawk and a passenger jet near DCA, prompted outrage from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who deemed the helicopter’s actions “unacceptable.” The FAA and NTSB are investigating, while Duffy plans to address the Defense Department regarding the disregard for safety protocols. The incident underscores ongoing concerns about the risks of helicopter operations in the congested airspace around DCA.
Read More
A near-miss occurred Friday afternoon between a Delta Air Lines flight departing Reagan National Airport and a US Air Force T-38 Talon jet, prompting an onboard alert and corrective actions from air traffic control. The incident, which occurred near the site of a previous fatal collision, involved the military jet passing within close proximity to the Delta aircraft at a high rate of speed. The FAA will investigate this close call, which follows recent congressional hearings concerning numerous prior near-misses between military and commercial aircraft in the same area. This event underscores ongoing safety concerns regarding military aircraft operations near Reagan National Airport.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker