United Flight Narrowly Avoids Collision with Helicopter at John Wayne Airport

FAA Investigates Incident as Pilots Take Evasive Action

Mar. 28, 2026 at 1:08am

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating a close call incident that occurred on Tuesday night at John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California. A United Airlines passenger flight on final approach came dangerously close to colliding with a Black Hawk military helicopter, prompting the pilots to take evasive action and level the aircraft before landing safely.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the ongoing challenges of safely integrating military and civilian air traffic, even at major airports. The FAA recently implemented new policies to improve aircraft separation, but this close call demonstrates the need for continued vigilance and evaluation of air traffic control procedures.

The details

United Airlines flight 589, a Boeing 737-800 with 162 passengers and 6 crew members, was on final approach to John Wayne Airport around 8:40 p.m. when air traffic control advised the pilots of a nearby Black Hawk helicopter. The pilots responded by 'leveling the aircraft' to avoid a potential collision, and the flight landed safely with no reported injuries. The FAA is investigating whether a new measure enacted after a 2025 fatal crash at Reagan National Airport, which suspends visual separation between planes and helicopters, was properly applied in this incident.

  • The incident occurred on Tuesday, March 28, 2026 around 8:40 p.m.

The players

United Airlines

A major U.S. airline that operates the Boeing 737-800 aircraft involved in the near-miss incident at John Wayne Airport.

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)

The U.S. government agency responsible for regulating and overseeing civil aviation, including investigating incidents like the one at John Wayne Airport.

Sikorsky Black Hawk

A military helicopter operated by the U.S. Army that was involved in the near-miss incident with the United Airlines flight.

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What’s next

The FAA will continue its investigation into the incident to determine the exact circumstances and whether proper air traffic control procedures were followed. The agency may also evaluate if any changes are needed to its policies for managing the integration of military and civilian aircraft.

The takeaway

This close call at John Wayne Airport serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing challenges in ensuring the safe coexistence of military and commercial air traffic, even at major airports with advanced air traffic control systems. The FAA's recent policy changes aim to mitigate these risks, but this incident shows the need for continued vigilance and refinement of procedures to prevent future near-misses.