A United Airlines flight faced a harrowing situation on Tuesday night as it approached John Wayne Airport in Southern California. A military Black Hawk helicopter crossed paths with the passenger jet, as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The airline confirmed their crew was notified by air traffic control about the nearby Sikorsky Black Hawk during the flight’s final descent into Santa Ana. The pilots managed to level the aircraft in time, ensuring the flight landed safely.
Data from Flightradar24 indicates that the two aircraft were separated by a mere 525 feet in vertical distance and only about 1,422.43 feet horizontally, or 0.27 miles, when the helicopter crossed the United plane’s path.
The incident took place around 8:40 p.m. local time, with the Boeing 737 transporting 168 passengers from San Francisco to Santa Ana. Confirming the involvement, the California National Guard shared that their Army helicopter was on a routine training mission, adhering to Visual Flight Rules and maintaining communication with air traffic control. It too landed without issues.
An urgent investigation is underway after a military Black Hawk helicopter crossed in front of a packed passenger flight as it attempted to land in California. The pilots took evasive action to avoid a possible midair crash. @TrevorLAult reports. https://t.co/951zGOKD6E pic.twitter.com/gMaOsMbQHw
— World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) March 26, 2026
The California National Guard stated that a comprehensive review will be carried out in collaboration with pertinent agencies. Meanwhile, the FAA is looking into the incident, specifically examining whether the new safety protocols designed to enhance separation between aircraft were properly implemented.
The anti-collision alert received by United’s pilots is classified as a serious warning, necessitating immediate action to avert an impact. This near miss arises amid growing scrutiny of aviation safety following numerous notable incidents.
Just days prior, a regional Air Canada jet struck a Port Authority fire truck at LaGuardia Airport, resulting in the deaths of two pilots and injuries to many others. Last year, an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight near Washington, D.C., leading to a tragic loss of 67 lives.
In response to these events, the FAA has enforced a new policy restricting the use of visual separation in congested airspace around busy airports where helicopters frequently intersect flight paths. This regulation emphasizes the necessity for air traffic controllers to utilize radar for precise aircraft spacing and separation.
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