Federal aviation officials are examining a dangerous mid-air encounter that occurred Tuesday evening when a United Airlines aircraft nearly collided with a military Black Hawk helicopter while approaching John Wayne Airport in Southern California.
The Federal Aviation Administration announced Friday it has launched an investigation into the 8:40 p.m. incident, which happened when the military chopper, returning from a training exercise, entered the commercial aircraft’s flight path. The United flight, carrying 162 passengers and six crew members, was forced to halt its descent and maintain level flight to prevent a crash.
This alarming incident occurs just over a year following the devastating collision between an American Airlines aircraft and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near the nation’s capital, which claimed 67 lives in what became the most deadly aviation disaster on American soil in over twenty years. That tragedy has led to increased examination of aviation protocols and safety measures designed to prevent aircraft conflicts.
Following the 2025 Washington crash, federal regulators implemented new policies this month mandating that air traffic controllers use radar technology to actively guide both helicopters and commercial planes around airport areas, replacing the previous system that relied on visual contact between pilots. Prior to the Washington incident, controllers had asked helicopter crews if they could see the passenger plane before clearing them to maneuver around it.
Regarding Tuesday evening’s close encounter in Santa Ana, California, the FAA stated it will examine whether the recently implemented regulations were properly followed.
United Airlines released a statement acknowledging the Tuesday event details.
“During final approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, pilots on United flight 589 were advised by air traffic control to watch for a military helicopter flying near the airport. They saw the helicopter, and also received a traffic alert, which they responded to by leveling the aircraft,” the statement read.
Flight tracking data from FlightRadar24 indicates the United aircraft came as close as 525 feet vertically and 1,422 feet horizontally to the helicopter before the pilots leveled off following a collision warning alert.
Audio recordings from John Wayne Airport’s control tower, obtained through LiveATC.net, reveal a controller inquiring shortly after the near-miss whether the commercial pilot had been notified about the helicopter or given altitude restrictions. The pilot confirmed receiving a “resolution advisory,” which represents the most critical collision warning alert generated by the aircraft’s onboard safety systems.
“We’re going to be addressing that, because that was not good,” the air traffic controller responded.
A representative from the California National Guard confirmed the helicopter from Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos was conducting standard training operations and returning to its home base “at an assigned altitude while in communication with air traffic control.”
Officials have not disclosed whether any temporary flight path or training route modifications were implemented following Tuesday’s incident.
An airport representative stated that since the event occurred in airspace rather than on airport property, she could not provide additional details.
This recent near-collision happened just two days following a runway accident at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, where an Air Canada aircraft struck a fire truck, resulting in the deaths of both pilots.
