FAA Probes United Jet, Black Hawk Near Miss in California

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating a serious near miss involving a United Airlines passenger jet and a U.S. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter near John Wayne Airport, raising renewed concerns about aircraft separation in congested airspace.

The incident occurred Tuesday Mar. 24 in the evening as United Flight 589, a Boeing 737 arriving from San Francisco, was on final approach into Orange County. During descent, the cockpit’s collision avoidance system was triggered after detecting a nearby UH-60 Black Hawk operating under the callsign “Knife 25.”

According to flight tracking data, the two aircraft came within approximately 525 feet vertically and 1,422 feet laterally at their closest point. Air traffic control had warned the flight crew about helicopter activity in the vicinity, advising them to maintain visual awareness during the approach.

Following the alert, the pilots halted their descent and leveled off until they safely passed the helicopter, before continuing the approach and landing without further incident. Audio recordings from air traffic control indicate concern over the encounter, with a controller stating, “We’re going to be addressing that, because that was not good.”

The California National Guard confirmed the helicopter was conducting a routine training mission and was returning to its base at Los Alamitos under Visual Flight Rules (VFR), while maintaining communication with air traffic control. Officials said a full review will be conducted in coordination with federal authorities.

The incident comes amid heightened scrutiny of helicopter operations near major airports following a series of close calls and a fatal collision in January 2025 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, where a Black Hawk helicopter struck a regional jet, killing 67 people.

In response to that tragedy and subsequent incidents, the FAA recently introduced new safety measures requiring controllers to rely on radar-based separation rather than pilot “see and avoid” procedures when helicopters operate near flight paths of arriving and departing aircraft.

The latest near miss in California underscores ongoing risks in mixed-use airspace where military, commercial, and general aviation aircraft operate in close proximity. Investigators are expected to examine air traffic control procedures, communication protocols, and adherence to separation standards as part of the inquiry.

While no injuries were reported, the event highlights the importance of enhanced surveillance and coordination systems to prevent potentially catastrophic midair conflicts in increasingly busy skies.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com