Passenger plane, Air Force jet avoid near collision in Washington D.C.

Passenger plane, military jet avoid collision in Washington D.C.

Robert Besser
04 Apr 2025, 13:57 GMT+10

Passenger plane, Air Force jet avoid near collision in Washington D.C.

A U.S. passenger plane getting ready to take off and a military jet coming in were told to change course to avoid a possible crash, officials said
Delta Air Lines Flight 2983 was permitted to take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday at about 3:15 p.m
At the same time, four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon jets were approaching, the Federal Aviation Administration said

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A U.S. passenger plane getting ready to take off and a military jet coming in were told to change course to avoid a possible crash, officials said.

Delta Air Lines Flight 2983 was permitted to take off from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday at about 3:15 p.m. At the same time, four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon jets were approaching, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.

The jets were on their way for a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery when the Delta plane got an alert about another aircraft nearby. Air traffic controllers quickly gave new instructions to both planes to prevent a collision. The FAA said it will investigate.

According to a recording of air traffic control communications, Delta's pilot asked, "Was there an actual aircraft about 500 ft below us as we came off of DCA?"

In a recording archived by aviation site LiveATC.net, the controller responded: "Delta 2983, affirmative."

Delta said the Airbus A319 had 131 passengers, two pilots, and three flight attendants. It was flying from Washington, D.C., to Minneapolis-St. Paul. The plane left the gate at 2:55 p.m. and was scheduled to land at 4:36 p.m. local time; however, the pilots followed new instructions from controllers.

No one was hurt.

The T-38 Talon is a high-speed training jet used by the Air Force and other agencies, including NASA.

This incident happened just two months after a deadly midair crash over the same airport. On January 29, an American Airlines passenger plane and an Army helicopter collided, killing 67 people. Both crashed into the Potomac River, making it the worst U.S. plane crash in over 20 years.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Entertainment Sun.

More Information

null in null

International

Section

Passenger plane, military jet avoid collision in Washington D.C.

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A U.S. passenger plane getting ready to take off and a military jet coming in were told to change course to avoid...

Radio Free Asia faces shutdown without urgent court relief

Radio Free Asia to shut down by April end without court intervention

WASHINGTON, D.C.: Radio Free Asia, a key voice in press freedom across the continent for nearly three decades, is now warning it may...

Small plane crashes into Minnesota home, one dead

At least 1 dead after plane crashes into home in Minneapolis suburb

BROOKLYN PARK, Minnesota: At least one person died when a small plane crashed into a house in a Minneapolis suburb on Saturday, a city...

Trump says Smithsonian Institution spreading 'anti-American ideology'

Trump orders removal of 'divisive' ideology from Smithsonian

WASHINGTON, D.C.: This week, President Donald Trump ordered the removal of what he called improper, divisive, or anti-American ideology...

University of Michigan shuts DEI office amid federal pressure

University of Michigan shuts DEI office, citing Trump orders

WASHINGTON, D.C.: The University of Michigan, known for its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs, announced this week that...

Judge criticizes Texas prisons for lack of ACs, even as lawsuits mount

As lawsuits mount, judge says heat in Texas prisons unconstitutional

AUSTIN, Texas: A federal judge criticized Texas for keeping prisoners in hot prisons without air conditioning but did not order an...

Movies

Section

Passenger plane, military jet avoid collision in Washington D.C.

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

International

Passenger plane, military jet avoid collision in Washington D.C.

Radio Free Asia faces shutdown without urgent court relief

Small plane crashes into Minnesota home, one dead

Trump says Smithsonian Institution spreading 'anti-American ideology'

University of Michigan shuts DEI office amid federal pressure

Judge criticizes Texas prisons for lack of ACs, even as lawsuits mount

Movies

Xinhua Photo Daily | April 4, 2025

"Huge loss for film industry, country": MP CM Mohan Yadav condoles demise of veteran actor Manoj Kumar

"His cinema will instil national pride": President Murmu, political leaders condole demise of actor Manoj Kumar

Icon of 'Patriotic Cinema', Manoj Kumar, to be cremated tomorrow in Mumbai

The Maestro of Hospitality

"Was at peace with his loved ones...": Kunal Goswami reflects on father Manoj Kumar's final moments

Movie Review

Major Dundee [Blu-Ray]