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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently conducting an investigation following a near-miss incident at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. The event unfolded on Tuesday night when a United Airlines passenger jet had a close encounter with a Black Hawk helicopter.
According to the FAA, the situation developed as United Airlines Flight 589 was descending for its final approach. At approximately 8:40 p.m., a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter unexpectedly crossed the aircraft’s flight path, creating a tense moment in the skies above the airport.
A spokesperson for United Airlines conveyed to Fox News that the pilots of the Boeing 737-800 were alerted by air traffic control to be on the lookout for a military helicopter in proximity to the airport. “Upon spotting the helicopter and receiving a traffic alert, the pilots responded promptly by leveling the aircraft,” the spokesperson explained. Thankfully, the United flight proceeded to execute a safe landing without further incident.
In the backdrop of this close shave, a photograph captures a typical scene at John Wayne Airport, where airplanes routinely take off and land, as evidenced by Mindy Schauer’s image via Digital First Media/Orange County Register. This incident serves as a reminder of the meticulous coordination required to ensure safety in the bustling airspace surrounding busy airports.
A plane takes off from John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif. (Mindy Schauer/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
“Leveling” an aircraft refers to slowing or stopping descent and holding a constant altitude to increase vertical separation.
The airline confirmed 162 passengers and six crew members were on board the plane and did not report any injuries.
Air traffic control audio obtained by the New York Post indicated the United flight got close enough to the Black Hawk to set off an anti-collision warning, or “resolution advisory,” from its traffic avoidance system.
A map of the aircraft’s path showed the near-collision in California. (FlightRadar24)
The alert suggests a potential crash was only seconds away.
“United 589, just want to clarify here, did you get, uh … just a traffic call reference to the helicopter or did they restrict your altitude or anything,” the controller reportedly asked the United flight.
“We had a resolution advisory for United 589, RA,” a pilot replied.
“We’re gonna be addressing that because that was not good,” the controller said.
The U.S. Army did not immediately respond to additional inquiries about the incident from Fox News Digital.
An Army Black Hawk helicopter hovers in the air. (Getty Images)
The FAA said Thursday it is investigating whether a new measure was applied, which suspends the use of visual separation between planes and helicopters.
That measure, enacted after a review after last year’s deadly crash at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), was announced March 18.
John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, Calif. (Jeff Gritchen/Digital First Media/Orange County Register via Getty Images)
“The general notice (GENOT), which suspends the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters, now mandates that air traffic controllers will instead use radar to actively manage these aircraft to keep them separated at specific lateral or vertical distances,” according to the FAA website.
On Jan. 29, 2025, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided midair with an American Airlines passenger plane near DCA, killing all 64 people on the commercial flight and three aboard the military helicopter.
Tuesday’s incident occurred just days after an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck on a runway at New York City’s LaGuardia airport, killing both pilots on board.