Military Helicopter Crosses into Path of United Airlines Flight with 168 People on Board in Near-Miss

The incident occurred as the plane was due to land at John Wayne Airport in California.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 11:23am

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A United Airlines flight with 162 passengers and 6 crew members had a close call with a military Black Hawk helicopter as the plane was approaching John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California on March 24. The helicopter crossed into the flight path of the United plane, prompting the pilots to take evasive action to avoid a collision. The California National Guard confirmed the helicopter was on a routine training mission at the time.

Why it matters

Near-misses between aircraft can pose serious risks to passenger safety and highlight the need for robust air traffic control coordination, especially in busy airspaces around airports. This incident raises questions about procedures for military aircraft operating near commercial flights and whether additional safeguards are needed to prevent such close encounters.

The details

According to authorities, the incident occurred around 8:40 pm local time on March 24 as the United Airlines Boeing 737 was on final approach to land at John Wayne Airport. Air traffic control advised the United pilots to watch for the military helicopter, which was flying near the airport. The pilots spotted the helicopter and received a traffic alert, prompting them to level off the aircraft to avoid a collision. The United flight then landed safely.

  • The incident occurred around 8:40 pm local time on March 24, 2026.
  • The United Airlines flight had departed from San Francisco and was approaching John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California.

The players

United Airlines

A major U.S. airline that operates the Boeing 737 aircraft involved in the near-miss incident.

California National Guard

Confirmed that the military Black Hawk helicopter involved was conducting a routine training mission at the time of the incident.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing civil aviation, including investigating incidents like this near-miss.

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What’s next

The California National Guard stated that a thorough review of the incident will be conducted in coordination with the appropriate agencies.

The takeaway

This near-miss between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter highlights the need for robust coordination and communication between all aircraft operating in the same airspace, especially around busy airports. Procedures may need to be reviewed to prevent such close encounters and ensure the continued safety of passengers.