FAA Investigates Military Helicopter Intercepting United Flight Near John Wayne Airport
The Federal Aviation Administration has opened a probe after a military helicopter crossed ahead of a United Airlines jet as it neared John Wayne Airport. The incident occurred Tuesday night during the final approach of United Flight 589.
Sequence of events
Flight tracking data show the encounter happened about 8:40 p.m. The aircraft involved were a United Airlines airliner and a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter.
FlightRadar24 data indicate the two aircraft came within roughly 525 feet vertically. Their closest lateral separation measured about 1,422 feet. FlightRadar24 described the situation as a close call.
Flight response and landing
United Airlines said air traffic control alerted the crew to a nearby military helicopter. The pilots observed the helicopter, received a traffic alert and leveled off before continuing the approach.
The airliner resumed descent and landed safely in Santa Ana about three minutes later. The helicopter also returned and landed without injury.
Authorities and statements
AnnaSophia Servin, a John Wayne Airport spokesperson contacted by Filmogaz.com, said the airport did not classify the event as a close call. The FAA confirmed it is investigating the incident.
The probe will examine whether new limits on the use of visual separation were in effect. Visual separation lets pilots keep other aircraft in sight rather than relying solely on controllers.
Military and safety details
The California National Guard identified the aircraft as an Army National Guard helicopter on a routine training mission. The Guard said the Black Hawk was flying an assigned altitude on a Visual Flight Rules route back to Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos.
Officials said the helicopter was in communication with air traffic control at the time. The California Air National Guard provided that information to CBS News.
Industry context and concerns
The encounter renews debate over interactions between helicopters and scheduled airline traffic near airports. Industry officials have raised worries since the January 2025 mid-air collision near Reagan National Airport.
That earlier crash involved an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk. It killed 67 people and prompted renewed scrutiny of helicopter operations near commercial airports.
Regulatory scrutiny
National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy testified at a January hearing. She said airline officials have expressed concerns about helicopter traffic near certain airports, including Hollywood Burbank.
The FAA investigation will consider controller procedures and whether stricter separation rules should be applied. The outcome could affect rules for visual separation between airplanes and helicopters.
- Flight: United Airlines Flight 589.
- Time: Around 8:40 p.m., Tuesday night.
- Helicopter: Sikorsky Black Hawk, Army National Guard.
- Proximity: ~525 feet vertical, ~1,422 feet lateral.
- Destination: Santa Ana; helicopter returning to Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos.
Filmogaz.com contributed reporting to this story. The FAA continues its investigation into the military helicopter intercepting a United flight near John Wayne Airport.
