The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into a near-miss incident involving a United Airlines flight and a U.S. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter that occurred on Tuesday evening near John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. The incident, which saw the helicopter cross in front of the passenger jet as it was on final approach for landing, has raised concerns about aircraft separation and the effectiveness of new safety protocols.
United Airlines Flight 589, en route from San Francisco, was preparing to land around 8:40 p.m. when a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter traversed its path. This encounter triggered a collision avoidance alarm in the cockpit of the Boeing 737. According to preliminary radar data, the two aircraft came within approximately 525 feet vertically and 1,400 feet horizontally of each other at their closest point. The United flight, carrying 168 people, was able to level off in response to the alert and subsequently landed safely.
The California National Guard stated that the Black Hawk helicopter was engaged in a "routine training mission" and was returning to the Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos. The guard added that the helicopter was operating "along an established Visual Flight Rules route at an assigned altitude while in communication with air traffic control" and also landed safely. However, the close proximity of the aircraft has prompted a thorough review of the incident in coordination with relevant agencies.
The FAA's investigation will specifically examine whether a recently implemented safety measure, which limits the reliance on "visual separation" between aircraft and mandates the use of radar for separation, was in effect and properly followed. This new policy, which came into being partly in response to a fatal mid-air collision in January 2025 involving an American Airlines regional jet and a military helicopter near Washington D.C. that claimed 67 lives, aims to enhance safety by ensuring active radar control rather than visual confirmation. Air traffic control audio revealed the United pilot acknowledging a "resolution advisory" warning, with a controller responding, "We're going to be addressing that, because that was not good."
This incident is the latest in a series of near-misses between helicopters and commercial aircraft, highlighting ongoing concerns within the aviation industry regarding the management of mixed air traffic. The FAA has been under pressure to tighten regulations following previous close calls, including one near San Antonio and another at Burbank Airport. Both the United Airlines and the California National Guard have stated they are cooperating fully with the FAA's investigation.
