Trending Now - FAA Reports Near Miss Between Military Helicopter and United Flight

WHO:

The California Air National Guard stated the helicopter was based out of Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos.

The U.S. Army confirmed it is "aware of the incident involving a Black Hawk from the CA NG and is coordinating with the FAA to gather more details."

The California Air National Guard stated the helicopter was conducting a "routine training mission."

The U.S. Army confirmed it is "aware of the incident involving a Black Hawk from the CA NG and is coordinating with the FAA to gather more details."

United Airlines stated that the flight had 162 passengers and 6 crew members on board at the time of the incident.

The U.S. Army confirmed it is "aware of the incident involving a Black Hawk from the CA NG and is coordinating with the FAA to gather more details."

U.S. Army National Guard

United Airlines

California Air National Guard

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)

162 passengers and 6 crew members on United Airlines Flight 589

WHAT:

The incident involved a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter crossing in front of United Airlines Flight 589.

The United flight was a Boeing 737 with 168 people on board, including 162 passengers and 6 crew members.

The two aircraft were separated by 525 feet vertically and 1,422.43 feet horizontally when the helicopter crossed in front of the United plane.

The United flight landed safely around 8:49 p.m. local time on March 24th, 2026, with no injuries reported.

The FAA is continuing to investigate the situation, including whether a new measure to suspend the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters was applied.

The alert received by the United pilots is described as the most serious of the anti-collision alerts and requires immediate action, notifying the flight crew to maintain safe separation from a threat.

The incident occurred on March 24th, 2026, when a U.S. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crossed in front of United Airlines Flight 589, which was approaching John Wayne Airport.

The two aircraft were separated by 525 feet vertically and 1,422.43 feet horizontally when the helicopter crossed in front of the United plane.

The United flight had 168 people on board, including 162 passengers and 6 crew members.

The United flight landed safely around 8:49 p.m. local time on March 24th, 2026.

The FAA is investigating whether a new measure to suspend the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters was applied during the incident.

The alert received by the United pilots is described as the most serious of the anti-collision alerts and requires immediate action.

A U.S. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crossed the path of United Airlines Flight 589.

The incident occurred when the helicopter "crossed in front" of the flight's path.

United Airlines Flight 589 had 168 people on board.

The two aircraft were separated by 525 feet vertically and 1,422.43 feet horizontally when the helicopter crossed in front of the United plane.

The United flight landed safely around 8:49 p.m.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

WHERE:

John Wayne Airport, Orange County, California

Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, California

San Francisco International Airport

WHEN:

The incident occurred on March 24th, 2026, around 8:40 p.m. local time.

The United flight departed from San Francisco International Airport at 7:07 p.m. local time on March 24th, 2026.

WHY:

The incident comes as the Department of Transportation has changed rules for helicopters flying around airports after recent close calls, including one at Burbank Airport.

Increased scrutiny follows a deadly mid-air collision in Washington, D.C., over the Potomac River last year, involving a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines regional jet, which killed 67 people.

This incident comes as the Department of Transportation has changed rules for helicopters flying around airports after recent close calls, including one at Burbank Airport.

The incident follows increased scrutiny on helicopter operations around airports due to recent close calls, including a collision at LaGuardia Airport on March 22nd, 2026, which resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to dozens of people.

The FAA is investigating whether a new measure to suspend the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters was applied during the incident.

The incident follows a close call involving a regional Air Canada jet that collided with a Port Authority fire truck shortly after landing at LaGuardia Airport in New York City on March 22nd, 2026, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to dozens of people.

The California Air National Guard stated the helicopter was conducting a "routine training mission."

The incident follows increased scrutiny on helicopter operations around airports due to recent close calls and a deadly mid-air collision last year.

HOW:

Air traffic control audio revealed that the controller informed the pilot that "that was not good" regarding the situation.

The pilots received a resolution advisory from the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, which is meant to notify the flight crew to maintain safe separation from a threat.

Air traffic control audio revealed that the controller informed the pilot that "that was not good" regarding the situation.

United Airlines pilots were advised by air traffic control to watch for the military helicopter.

The pilots received a traffic alert from the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, prompting them to level the aircraft.

The helicopter was returning to Los Alamitos airfield along an established Visual Flight Rules (VFR) route while in communication with air traffic control.

(UPDATED March 27, 2026 15:15 UTC)

A Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter, based out of Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos, crossed in front of United Airlines Flight 589, which was a Boeing 737 carrying 168 people, including 162 passengers and 6 crew members. The two aircraft were separated by 525 feet vertically and 1,422 feet horizontally at the time of the incident, but the United flight landed safely on March 24, 2026, with no injuries reported. This incident has raised concerns as the Department of Transportation recently changed rules for helicopters near airports following close calls and a tragic mid-air collision last year that claimed 67 lives.

(UPDATED March 27, 2026 13:20 UTC)

On March 24, 2026, around 8:40 p.m. local time, a helicopter from the California Air National Guard was involved in an incident during a routine training mission, prompting the U.S. Army to coordinate with the FAA for further investigation. The FAA is looking into whether new measures to suspend visual separation between airplanes and helicopters were in effect, as the alert received by United pilots was described as the most serious anti-collision warning, requiring immediate action to ensure safe separation. This incident follows recent changes by the Department of Transportation regarding helicopter operations near airports, aimed at preventing close calls like the one experienced at Burbank Airport.

(UPDATED March 27, 2026 03:52 UTC)

On March 24, 2026, a U.S. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crossed in front of United Airlines Flight 589, which was approaching John Wayne Airport, with the two aircraft separated by 525 feet vertically and over 1,400 feet horizontally at the time. The United flight, carrying 168 people, landed safely around 8:49 p.m. local time, following a serious anti-collision alert that required the flight crew to take immediate action. This incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of helicopter operations near airports, particularly after a tragic collision at LaGuardia Airport on March 22 that resulted in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to many others, prompting an FAA investigation into safety measures.

(UPDATED March 27, 2026 01:23 UTC)

On March 24, 2026, around 8:40 p.m. local time, a serious incident involving a United Airlines flight with 162 passengers and 6 crew members on board prompted an investigation by the FAA. The U.S. Army confirmed it is aware of the situation involving a Black Hawk from the California National Guard and is coordinating with the FAA to gather more details, while the United pilots received a critical anti-collision alert that required immediate action. This incident follows a recent close call at LaGuardia Airport where an Air Canada jet collided with a fire truck, resulting in the tragic deaths of two pilots and injuries to many others.

(UPDATED March 26, 2026 23:13 UTC)

On March 24, 2026, around 8:40 p.m. local time, a U.S. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crossed the path of United Airlines Flight 589, which had 162 passengers and 6 crew members on board. The two aircraft were separated by 525 feet vertically and 1,422 feet horizontally at the time of the incident, but the United flight landed safely at John Wayne Airport shortly after. The Federal Aviation Administration is currently investigating the situation, which occurred during the helicopter's routine training mission and follows heightened scrutiny on helicopter operations near airports.