A potentially dangerous situation was averted at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport when a U.S. passenger flight was instructed to divert to prevent a possible collision with incoming military jets. Delta Air Lines Flight 2983 had been cleared for takeoff on Friday at approximately 3:15 p.m, the same time four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon jets were approaching the area. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted that the jets were en route to perform a flyover at Arlington National Cemetery.
During the incident, the Delta aircraft received an alert indicating the presence of another aircraft nearby. Air traffic controllers quickly provided new instructions to both the commercial jet and the military aircraft to prevent any potential collision. The FAA plans to conduct an investigation into the occurrence. According to air traffic control recordings, the Delta pilot queried, “Was there an actual aircraft about 500 ft below us as we came off of DCA?” An air traffic controller confirmed the presence of the nearby aircraft, replying, “Delta 2983, affirmative.”
The Delta flight, an Airbus A319, had 131 passengers, two pilots, and three flight attendants on board. It was scheduled to fly from Reagan to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. After leaving the gate at 2:55 p.m., it was expected to arrive in Minneapolis at 4:36 p.m. local time. However, the flight crew adhered to the instructions from the air traffic controllers to alter their course. Delta Airlines reported that no one on board was injured during the event.
The T-38 Talon aircraft, involved in this incident, is described on the Air Force’s official website as a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer, which is utilized by various departments, including NASA, for multiple functions, notably in pilot training. This situation unfolded just two months after a tragic aviation incident above the same airport, where a midair collision resulted in 67 fatalities. On January 29, an American Airlines jet crashed with an Army helicopter, leading both aircraft to fall into the Potomac River, claiming the lives of all on board.