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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a close encounter between a Delta Air Lines Airbus A319 and a U.S. Air Force T-38 jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. This incident occurred on Friday afternoon when Delta Flight 2983, bound for Minneapolis, narrowly avoided a collision with military aircraft in the busy and restricted airspace.
"The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a statement: '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 Delta aircraft received an onboard alert that another aircraft was nearby. Air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft. The FAA will investigate.'"
The Delta flight, departing at approximately 15:15 local time for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, received a "resolution advisory" warning from its onboard Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), prompting the flight crew to take evasive action. According to CNN audio reports, the Delta pilot inquired if there was an aircraft about 500 feet below as they were taking off, to which the air traffic controller confirmed.
