The Federal Aviation Administration said it is conducting a formal inquiry after a United Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter came into close proximity while the airliner was on its final approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California.
According to the FAA, the United Boeing 737-800 was on final approach at 8:40 p.m. on Tuesday when the Black Hawk crossed in front of the airliner. Flight-tracking service Flightradar24 reported the two aircraft were separated by 525 feet vertically at the closest point.
Federal investigators are also examining whether the event contravened a recently implemented FAA policy that limits the use of visual separation for helicopters operating near major airports. The agency said that where helicopters cross arrival or departure paths, air traffic controllers will employ radar to maintain specific lateral or vertical spacing between aircraft.
United Airlines provided details on Flight 589, which had originated in San Francisco. Pilots were told by air traffic control to be alert for a military helicopter in the vicinity of the airport. The crew visually identified the helicopter and received a cockpit traffic alert. In response, the flight crew leveled the aircraft and subsequently completed a safe landing. The flight was carrying 162 passengers and six crew members.
Separately, lawmakers in the U.S. House of Representatives took action related to helicopter-aircraft separation. Two House committees on Thursday approved legislation aimed at addressing concerns about spacing between helicopters and airplanes and other related matters.
The congressional measures and the FAA's rule changes come in the wake of a January 2025 mid-air collision between an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk near Reagan Washington National Airport that resulted in 67 fatalities. In issuing its new rules earlier this year, the FAA cited two additional recent near-miss incidents.
One such incident involved an American Airlines flight and a police helicopter near San Antonio. The FAA reported the aircraft were on converging tracks and that the helicopter executed a left turn to avoid the passenger jet.
Another occurrence on March 2 saw a Beechcraft 99 cleared to land at Burbank Airport in southern California while a helicopter traversed the final approach path. The FAA said the two aircraft were on converging courses and that the helicopter turned to avoid the Beechcraft.
After the January collision, the FAA imposed restrictions on helicopter operations around Reagan Washington National Airport and has extended limitations at other airports, including Baltimore, Las Vegas and Washington Dulles.
Context on investor tools mentioned in public materials
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