Delta jet's near miss with military aircraft near DCA reignites safety concerns
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Flying will be even safer after the DCA crash
Lessons learned from tragic plane crashes helps the aviation industry as a whole become even safer.
A Delta Air Lines flight departing from Reagan National Airport had a near-collision with a military aircraft on Friday.
The Delta pilots were able to avoid a collision after receiving an alert from the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System.
This incident comes just weeks after a fatal crash in nearly the same airspace involving an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter.
A Delta Air Lines jet narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force T-38 military aircraft on Friday near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport – just miles from the site of a deadly crash in January that killed 67 people.
Delta Flight 2983, an Airbus A319 bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul, had just departed DCA around 3 p.m. when a cockpit warning system, known as a Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), issued a 'resolution advisory,' directing pilots to take evasive action.
'On that departure … was there an actual aircraft about 500 ft below us as we came off of DCA?' the Delta pilot asked air traffic control, according to audio captured by LiveATC.net as first reported by CNN. 'Delta 2983, affirmative,' the controller responded.
The military jet was operating from Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.
"Delta Air Lines Flight 2983 was cleared for takeoff at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport around 3:15 p.m. local time on Friday, March 28, while four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons were inbound to Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover," the Federal Aviation Administration told USA TODAY in a statement. "
"The Delta aircraft received an onboard alert that another aircraft was nearby," the agency continued. "Air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft." The FAA will investigate.
5 takeaways from Senate hearing: Everyone agreed the deadly DC air crash was preventable
Delta confirmed the incident and said its crew responded appropriately. 'Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people. That's why the flight crew followed procedures to maneuver the aircraft as instructed,' spokesperson Morgan Durrant said. The aircraft was carrying 131 passengers, two pilots and three flight attendants, and arrived as scheduled at MSP at 4:36 p.m. local time.
This incident comes just weeks after the January 29 crash in nearly the same airspace, when an American Airlines regional jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided, killing everyone on board both aircraft. The National Transportation Safety Board has since revealed that thousands of near-misses occurred in the vicinity of DCA between 2021 and 2024.
Congress and aviation regulators are under mounting pressure to tighten safety measures in the congested Washington airspace.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indianapolis Star
a day ago
- Indianapolis Star
Remains of World War II soldier from Indianapolis return home 81 years later
The remains of World War II U.S. Army Pvt. LeRoy B. Miller Jr. are escorted by Flanner Buchanan on Aug. 15, 2025, in Indianapolis. Jade Jackson/IndyStar Family members of World War II soldier LeRoy B. Miller Jr. are escorted away from an American Airlines flight that carried his remains by U.S. Army Sgt 1st Class Jean Chong and Casualty Assistance Officer, Corey Akers on Aug. 15, 2025, in Indianapolis. Jade Jackson/IndyStar Jade Jackson/IndyStar From left, Claudia Hamilton, Michael Hamilton, Lance Hamilton, Fayette Moore, Avila Moore and Jeffrey Parker, the family of U.S. Army Pvt. LeRoy B. Miller Jr., watch as his remains are unloaded from an American Airlines flight on Aug. 15, 2025, in Indianapolis. Jade Jackson/IndyStar Michael Hamilton and Claudia Hamilton watch as an American Airlines flight carrying the remains of U.S. Army Pvt. LeRoy B. Miller Jr. lands on Aug. 15, 2025, in Indianapolis. Jade Jackson/IndyStar Public safety officials including law enforcement and Indianapolis International Airport fire crews salute as the remains of a World War II soldier are unloaded from an American Airlines flight on Aug. 15, 2025, in Indianapolis. Jade Jackson/IndyStar
CBS News
2 days ago
- CBS News
Near-daily warning signs about helicopters preceded D.C. midair collision, FAA data shows
Helicopters flying higher than allowed or close to landing and departing airplanes were a near-daily occurrence at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the year before January's deadly midair collision, a CBS News data analysis of recently released Federal Aviation Administration data reveals. On the same routes as the Army Black Hawk involved in the collision, helicopters came within 500 feet of airplanes landing or departing from the airport's runways 99 times in 2024, the analysis shows. That's an average of nearly twice per week. Encounters within 1,000 feet occurred multiple times per day. In the year leading up to the collision with an American Airlines flight, claiming the lives of all 67 aboard the two aircraft, one out of every 10 helicopters flying in that area were above the route's 200-foot altitude limit, according to analysis of the FAA data released as part of the National Transportation Safety Board's investigation into the crash. The route was already tight, offering a maximum of 75 feet of margin between helicopters passing through and landing airplanes flying overhead, NTSB officials have concluded. "What I'm trying to figure out is how do we not find this out until after an accident," the NTSB's Jennifer Homendy asked after presenting the FAA data during investigative hearings on Aug. 1. "How do we ensure that data is being evaluated and shared?" "None of the airlines had identified any of the risk here, the Army hadn't identified the risk here, and we hadn't identified the risk," FAA acting deputy chief operations officer Nick Fuller said in response to the questioning. "I hope that the AI tools that we're developing will find some of the things that we are missing that we just can't catch, because most of the operations that we looked into were actually compliant." Robert Sumwalt, former chair of the NTSB and CBS News' transportation safety expert and analyst, said the newly-public FAA data indicates such close operations between helicopters and airplanes may have been normalized. "So, therefore it just looked like noise in the data that people really were not taking it as a serious risk. And as we now know the risk was unacceptable," Sumwalt said. The FAA has been evaluating helicopter flight data for airports nationwide, relying on data similar to the information analyzed by CBS News. The effort has already led to safety changes at some airports, including Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, where FAA officials said helicopter close encounters declined 30% in three weeks after action was taken earlier this year. "The FAA took quick action after the accident to stop mixed traffic in the DC airspace," a statement released Thursday by the agency said. "We continue to work with the NTSB to support the ongoing investigation." The data analyzed by CBS News came from two FAA studies completed in the months after the January crash, including one initiated by the NTSB. One examined helicopter altitudes near the airport in the year leading up to the crash and the other examined encounters between aircraft over periods of various lengths up to 52 months before the crash. A third study has been requested but not yet received from the FAA, according to NTSB officials. At least half of the helicopters flying routes within five miles of Washington National in the year before the collision were military flights, the FAA data showed. Those flying missions similar to the Black Hawk involved in the crash came within 1,000 feet of other aircraft 687 times over the course of 52 months leading up to the crash. That's an average of more than three times per week. The American Airlines flight from Wichita, Kansas involved in the collision was operated by PSA Airlines on a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional airliner. Both the airline and that model of jet were the most likely to depart or land at the airport during the 52 months leading up to the crash, the CBS News analysis of FAA data shows. They were also the most likely aircraft types to end up within 1,000 feet of a helicopter. The airline's flights were involved in a close encounter an average of four times per week, the analysis of FAA data shows. The NTSB's investigation into the collision is ongoing. A final report with determinations about the probable cause is likely within the next year.
Buzz Feed
4 days ago
- Buzz Feed
26 Parent-Approved School Year Essentials
A school supply essentials box in case that back-to-school list is just too daunting. This case has pretty much everything you'll need for the school year and almost anything that'll be on the supply list so you can enjoy summer rather than fight Hunger Games-style with another adult over the last glue stick. Each bundle includes a plastic pencil box, a 10-pack of markers, a 24-pack of crayons, a 12-pack of colored pencils, three glue sticks, a pack of #2 pencils, five pencil top erasers, a rubber eraser, a pencil sharpener, a pair of blunt tip scissors, two pencil grips, a 12-inch ruler, a wide-rule spiral notebook, a wide ruled composition book, and two 2-pocket folder with metal review: "As a busy working mother, this was a lifesaver! The kit had everything my third grader needed to start his new school year, and I didn't have to fight the crowds at the stores!!! 5 stars!!!" —Carolyn JacksonGet it from Amazon for $32.99+ (available in two other sizes). A gentle alarm clock that'll hopefully bring you much cheerier wake-ups than jarring beeping sounds. I recently started using this sunrise clock and THE CHANGE to my mornings. Even if your little one is too young for an alarm clock, just having one for yourself can make waking up so much more pleasant. Promising review: "This clock is a lifesaver! I bought one each for my three kids so they can get up on time for school, and it works perfectly! They love the ease of use and customization — and they are actually excited about getting up on time!" —KavinaGet it from Amazon for $32.88+ (available in three colors). A cereal dispenser so they can get themselves breakfast without a gigantic pile of spilled cereal on the floor. The added excitement of making every breakfast feel like a hotel vacation breakfast is simply a bonus. Promising review: "These keep my cereal fresh, my 6-year-old can use them on her own! It's truly a lifesaver!" —Allison MarieGet it from Amazon for $31.22. A breakfast sandwich maker to get you a hot and delicious breakfast rather than scavenging off of leftover cereal and cold toaster pastries. This machine makes amazing breakfast sandwiches in minutes — plus you can embarrass your brood by singing H-O-T-T-O-G-O every time you pass them a sando. Promising review: "This thing is a lifesaver. I'm a mother of four young kids, so I have resorted to eating cereal, Pop-Tarts, anything FAST in the mornings because I have lots of little people to take care of, too. For as little as one minute of prep time and five minutes to cook, I have a delicious and much healthier breakfast. I bought the single, but I am considering ordering a double as well." — it from Amazon for $29.95+ (available in five colors). A hard-boiled egg maker so efficient, it takes almost all of the time out of making hard-boiled eggs for your family. Quickly make up to six eggs at a time in about 10 minutes. Perfect for any family rushing through the breakfast chaos — or anyone who has found their batch of hard-boiled eggs sitting in a lukewarm pot of water six hours later. 🫠 Promising review: "Lifesaver! Quick eggs and do not need to be prepped that much. Helps a lot when you are getting kids ready to go to school." —DeepakGet it from Amazon for $18.99+ (available in two sizes and seven colors). A programmable coffee maker that'll help you set your coffee up the night before and wake up to your favorite aroma. If you're like me and have had too many mornings where you realize you forgot to brew your coffee until it was too late, it's time to treat yourself to a better system. Promising review: "What was I waiting for? I drink a lot of coffee. Now I've always had a glass pot coffee maker and briefly went down the Keurig road (hated it.) After breaking my third glass pot in the past few years, I started looking into getting a stainless steel pot. I saw a few with a water reservoir, but I decided against it. Good fresh water makes for good coffee. This one seemed to get good reviews, so I ordered it. Boy, am I glad that I did! The pot is huge (a lot of stainless steel pots were only 10 cups, this one makes 12.) The design is sleek and matches my kitchen so well. The auto feature is nice when I remember to actually prep it at night. There is a bold feature (yaasss!) The display will tell you how many minutes, up to two hours, have passed since it brewed. The best part, however, is the pot. It keeps the coffee warm for hours and hours. I have four kids and run a home daycare, so I don't always get around to getting my second and third cups until hours after brewing. And I hate microwaved coffee! This coffee maker has been a lifesaver. I can have my early morning cup. Get through my morning schedule and go back for another cup, and it'll be just as hot! No reheating! My only complaint is that I wish the filter were cone-shaped instead of a basket. Just a personal preference of mine. (I think the chance of grounds getting into the brew increases with a basket filter, that's all.) But other than that, this has been the best coffee maker I have ever bought." —JasmineGet it from Amazon for $65.99+ (available in three versions). A set of refrigerator storage bins to make getting lunches ready a much more streamlined process. Rather than digging through the fridge trying to find whatever snacks you have, keep them separated and at the ready. Promising review: "The bins were a lifesaver. Now I can reach things easily by pulling out bins. The entire family found that this works better than reaching in the back of the refrigerator for things that have fallen. Now it is simply pulling out a bin. Also, it avoids standing in front of the refrigerator looking for things. The bins have 'like' items in each. I also paired this with the rotating refrigerator carousel. My refrigerator is now very organized and maximizes space. The bins seem very durable and are made of sturdy material." —Gorbla2Get a set of four from Amazon for $16.76+ (available in two sizes). A pack of silicone dividers so foods in the lunch box stay separated and less soggy — because no one likes soggy crackers thanks to strawberry spillage. Promising review: "We love these! Every Sunday, we make homemade Lunchables. We put crackers in the rectangular cup, sliced cheese in the square, and salami or pepperoni on the round. They fit into an airtight container to go into the fridge until the kids pack their lunches each morning. It's been a life and time saver!!!" —Erin B. LeggGet a 36-pack of assorted shapes from Amazon for $9.99 (available in various shapes and sizes). A lunchbox with an option to send warm food for the kid who likes to mix up their lunch routine. The hot cup has a lid to keep food separate AND is removable — meaning you don't need two lunchboxes when your kiddo decides to take a cold lunch. So many more lunch opportunities are in your future. Promising review: "My daughter loves to bring a warm lunch to school every day. We have previously tried other bento lunchboxes, but none of them keep the food warm or fresh for very long. The OmieBox has been a lifesaver! This lunchbox has plenty of space and keeps the food warm and fresh all day. It is strong and has lasted despite all the times it has been bumped and banged up at school. It is easy to clean and does not leave food residue. I will be buying another one for my son this school year. Highly recommended!" —Jesus CastroGet it from Amazon for $49.95 (available in seven colors). An insulated Thermos for sending them with something hot along with their cold lunch items. Although some parents love sending pasta, many rave about the ability to send some dino nuggets that are still hot by lunch! Promising review: "My child doesn't like many cold lunch options for school. This has been a lifesaver! I've packed macaroni and cheese, chili and rice, soups, chicken and broccoli, and much more, all with success. The container keeps the food warm, doesn't leak, and seems to be enough food." —OH ReviewGet it from Amazon for $15.39+ (available in 30 designs). A freezable lunch bag with built-in ice packs to keep food fresh and at a safe eating temperature. Just toss it in the freezer the night before to keep food cool all day — because staying home with a kid with food poisoning should not be on your agenda. This is the brand I use for both of my kids, and I absolutely love these bags. They're so easy to store, and there's ice on both sides — ensuring safe food no matter when their lunchtime is. It's nice to be able to send a string cheese without remembering the room-temperature, rubbery-by-mid-day cheese stick of my youth. 🤢Promising review: "These are amazing. I was having to put ice packs in my kids' lunch and was looking for an alternative when I came across these. It has been over 100 for the last two weeks, not counting the heat index, and they have been a lifesaver. They go in the kids' backpacks in the am and come off the bus still cold. This never happened with an ice pack. It actually stays cold and helps my kids to have cold food during the day, I wish I had found these years ago!!!" —BryanGet it from Amazon for $24.99 (available in eight designs). A visual timer to help keep things calm if your kiddo struggles with transitions. With a visual timer, "five more minutes until you need to brush your teeth" actually has some meaning as they watch the rainbow count down. I use this with my oldest on school nights so she knows when to stop reading and go to sleep. Promising review: "The Yunbaoit Upgraded Black Visual Timer with Protective Case has been an absolute lifesaver for managing ADHD in our household. The visual countdown is intuitive and easy to understand, making it perfect for staying on task and managing transitions. The durable protective case adds peace of mind, ensuring it can withstand daily use. Whether it's for homework, chores, or screen time, this timer has helped create structure and minimize distractions. It's simple to use, highly effective, and has quickly become an essential tool in our routine. I can't recommend it enough for anyone looking to improve time management!" —adudethatknowsGet it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in nine colors). A set of personalized labels so you can avoid the hassle of rummaging through the overflowing lost and found. I'm pretty sure my kids forget their lunchbox, water bottle, or sweater every day last school year — labels make things so much easier to find later. Promising review: "I've had these name labels for a while, and they're absolutely amazing. I can stick them on clothes, wash them, and they're still good. They've been an absolute lifesaver when it comes to school — teachers know when it's my child's, and it prevents it from being lost. I've stuck it on sippies, clothes, shoes, the outside of backpacks, it is RESILIENT and honestly, super underpriced for how high quality and the quantity you get. I'd only ever buy from this seller." — 130-pack from Amazon for $9.95 (available in 27 designs). An electric toothbrush that uses an app to keep your kid engaged and brushing for a full two minutes. Electric toothbrushes already keep teeth cleaner, but the addition of the app helps kids work through brushing without getting distracted or hurrying through the process. Honestly just being able to leave them to brushing without having to hover as the tarter police is worth it. Promising review: "We were having some struggles getting our 3.5-year-old to brush his teeth. This toothbrush and the app have been a lifesaver! He now looks forward to brushing his teeth and gets excited to see what 'present' he's going to get. Also, the app is actually way better than I expected." —Amanda P. Get it from Amazon for $29.96+ (available in two colors, two charging styles, and as a bundle). And a toothpaste dispenser and toothbrush holder to save you from trying to get out for the morning and hearing "CAN SOMEONE PASTE MY TOOTHBRUSH??" or the ever-dreaded "uh-oh" during teeth brushing. Promising review: "LOVE, LOVE this!! We previously had a different one similar to this, but did not have a toothpaste dispenser. I decided to try this one out because it matched and was more modern-looking. I am so happy with this! It fit on our wall exactly where the other one went, and we didn't even have to use the sticker. I love the four cops and how hidden and easy they are to access. The toothpaste comes out perfectly every time and does not make a mess!!! My kids love to make messes, so this is a lifesaver. I have already recommended this to all of my friends and family." —Lindsay SnackGet it from Amazon for $16.99+ (available in four colors). A day-of-the-week clothing organizer so that choosing clothes for school doesn't become a daily battle in your household. Just check the weather report and choose outfits over the weekend — suddenly a (mostly) stress-free morning! Promising review: "This has been an absolute lifesaver! My kids put all of their clothes for the week in their 'pockets' on Sunday and there's no digging in the mornings anymore!" —CrystalWGet it from Amazon for $25.99. A fan-favorite Skylight calendar for keeping all of your family appointments in plain sight. Not only does it automatically sync to your calendars, you can set up chore charts for your family members and keep lists all in one place — making the school year so much less hectic for you. Promising review: "If you have a busy household, this family calendar is a lifesaver. Now everyone can enter their appointments, work schedules, classes, etc, into their own Google calendar, and it syncs to the family calendar. Everyone is aware of what is happening, and it avoids double booking. App is easy to use, as is the actual device." —NH CustomerGet it from Amazon for $269.99. A shoe organizer to hopefully avoid the every morning battle to find a missing shoe. Not only can you keep everything in one place, you'll also free up your entryway from a sea of mismatched shoes. Promising review: "With three small kids and a husband with lots of shoes, this shoe cabinet has been a lifesaver. I built it on my own in just a few hours. I love it." —KatieGet it from Amazon for $125.99+ (available with two, three, four, or six drawers and 10 colors). A car seat unbuckling tool so they can unbuckle themselves at in the morning, ensuring that you're not burying your face at drop-off as you hold up the line to unbuckle your kid. The car seat buckle desperately needs to be one less thing you fight with. Promising review: "We purchased two of these, one for each car, and it has been great for dropping off our Kindergarten student at school. We are not allowed to get out of the car, so I was worried how to get him unbuckled from his car seat/harness, but this has been a lifesaver. It took him only two practices to get it, but he really picked it up quick and now he really enjoys unbuckling himself once we get in car line. We love this product!" —Alicia RosenbauerGet it from Amazon for $14.99+ (available in seven colors). A rolling backpack because backpacks are just SO HEAVY. These are great for littles and bigs alike, especially if you walk to school. Nothing like saving them a few extra years before back pain sets in. Promising review: "My kids have quite a walk after they get off the bus. so this has been a lifesaver!" —C. it from Amazon for $27.99+ (available in different colors). A wobble cushion if you have a kid who JUST. NEEDS. TO. WIGGLE. Desk seats were not made with wiggly kids in mind, so wobble cushions offer some much needed movement without leaving the seat and disrupting class. My ADHD kiddo pretty much lives on this cushion during the school year — LIFESAVER. Promising review: "My son has ADHD, and this was a lifesaver. Lucky for u,s the school approved it for use in the classroom. It's nice because it's lightweight and he can grab it and take it with him wherever he goes. The little nub-like fingers on it work wonders for him. It gives him something to keep his body busy and his little hands. Awesome find!" —LaKeishaGet it from Amazon for $23.74+ (available in six colors and in multipacks). A zipper binder to keep everything in place and zipped up so papers don't go flying. It even has a carrying strap in case their backpack is too small. Say good-bye to papers shoved down at the bottom of the backpack — they've finally thought of everything. Promising review: "This binder was a lifesaver for my middle schooler. The first binder we tried was NOT one of these. It was impossible to carry around, and papers were frequently lost. Then I found this. This binder changed everything and even eased my students' anxiety because it's so much easier to stay organized. The ring itself is sturdy and easy to open and close. There's room in here for work from different classes, and storage for pencils and pens, etc. There is a bonus section of accordion storage, which is excellent for take-home papers or other loose items. Then, it zips closed! This zipper is tough, and it seems to move with ease no matter what. And the icing on the cake is the handle on the spine. This makes it easy to grab the binder and stuff it in a backpack or walk between classes without having to cradle the binder in your arms. We never used the optional shoulder strap, but options are nice. This binder gets an A+." —Rachel WGet it from Amazon for $28.99+ (available in 20 designs and in multipacks). A pair of noise-cancelling headphones for your sensory-sensitive kid. These headphones are powerful enough to dull ambient classroom noise, but still allow them to hear the teacher. Even kids without sensory sensitivities love wearing these! Every teacher my kids have had has a basket for communal use. As the parent of a kid with sensory challenges, these are an absolute school-year must-have. Promising review: "Purchased this back in 2021 when my child was 5 years of age. He's now 9 and they still fit perfectly on him. This has been a lifesaver for him and the bus driver, recently, since there are other kiddos on the bus that scream throughout the bus ride and it frustrates my child. So it's one less kiddo to be frustrated about." —NRDGet it from Amazon for $15.27+ (available in 19 colors and patterns). A set of clothing labels to help you find your kid's Bluey sweater in a veritable OCEAN of Bluey sweaters. These labels are machine washable and cost-effective — two of my favorite words. Promising review: "These are great. I use a regular Sharpie to write my kid's name on the label and put it on every article of clothing he can take off at school. I have washed them several times, and they still look brand new. These labels are a lifesaver for kids who cannot remember to bring home their jacket, hat, and gloves." —Kaitlyn SwoapeGet a pack of 54 Amazon for $5.99 (available in five sizes and various pack sizes). A pencil sharpener for at-home use because there's nothing quite as humbling as realizing you have absolutely zero tools to help them do their homework, you know, at home. Promising review: "I am 5-star satisfied with this pencil sharpener that is for different-sized pencils. We use this at home as I have a daughter in Kindergarten, so this has been a lifesaver. Sharpens a pencil easily and quickly within ten seconds. Love it." —Brittany AnnGet it from Amazon for $27.99. A saline spray because your kids are going to be bringing home literally all of the germs. All of them. EVERY LAST FORSAKEN GERM. Saline spray can help clear nasal passages, making colds pass a little quicker. Anything for some relief from the onslaught of fall viruses. Promising review: "Kids always fought me in spraying their noses (we live in the desert) and this spray is so healing, they actually ASK me for it in the morning!!! A lifesaver!" —D DGet it from Amazon for $6.99+ (also available in multipacks).
