A U.S. passenger flight from Washington, D.C., and an incoming military jet were directed to divert in order to avert a potential collision, according to official reports.
Delta Air Lines Flight 2983 was cleared for takeoff from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on Friday at approximately 3:15 p.m., coinciding with the arrival of four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talon aircraft.
The military jets were approaching for a scheduled flyover at Arlington National Cemetery when the Delta aircraft received a warning about nearby air traffic. In response, air traffic controllers issued corrective instructions to both the passenger flight and the military jets, and an investigation is set to follow.
The Airbus A319, carrying 131 passengers along with two pilots and three flight attendants, was on a routine flight bound for Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. The flight departed its gate at 2:55 p.m., with a planned arrival time of 4:36 p.m. local time, before the crew followed the diversion instructions issued by controllers.
Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this incident.
The T-38 Talon is characterized as a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer, utilized by multiple U.S. departments and agencies, including for pilot training within NASA.
