The American Aviation authority FAA is conducting research into a near-crash between a Delta Air Lines passenger’s plane and a military aircraft. The incident happened close to Reagan National Washington Airport.
Last Friday, a Delta Airbus A319, registration N342NB, departed Washington Reagan National for Minneapolis. Shortly after takeoff alarms sounded throughout the cockpit. It appeared that another military plane was flying in its vicinity. A US Air Force military T-38 training aircraft was just turning north on the east side of the Potomac River as it was preparing to directly overfly the Pentagon and Arlington National Cemetery for planned funeral flypast.
CNN has managed to get their hands on audio recordings. They allow for the conclusion that the Delta pilot had asked air traffic control if another aircraft had actually flown 150 meters below him. The air traffic flight controller affirmed. According to the FAA, four U.S. Air Force training aircraft were flying in the area.
The Pentagon said it was familiar with the incident but did not plan to comment to it.
Crash
The incident is remarkable considering similar incidents have happened before. In January, a military helicopter crashed into an American Airlines CRJ-700. The two machines collided and crashed into the Potomac River. The helicopter was carrying out a training flight with three crew members. The Bombardier CRJ 700 was owned by American Airlines’ subsidiary PSA Airlines. The plane had previously departed from Wichita, Kansas and was carrying out a landing procedure at Ronald Reagan National Airport in Washington. 67 people died in the incident.