Photo: Martin Aircraft Co | CC0 | Wikimedia Commons
FAA Probes United 589–Army Black Hawk Near Miss at John Wayne Airport After New Visual‑Separation Ban
United Airlines Flight 589, a Boeing 737‑800 with 162 passengers and six crew on approach to John Wayne Airport, received a TCAS traffic alert and resolution advisory and executed an abrupt level‑off and go‑around after a California Air National Guard Black Hawk crossed in front of the jet; there were no injuries and both aircraft landed safely. The FAA is investigating whether local controllers followed its March 18 suspension of visual‑separation procedures between airplanes and helicopters — a change made after the Jan. 29, 2025 Black Hawk–American Airlines collision — and the near miss has renewed questions about staffing and training at mixed‑use airports.
📌 Key Facts
- A California Air National Guard Black Hawk crossed in front of United Airlines Flight 589 (a Boeing 737‑800) on final approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, prompting an abrupt level‑off and go‑around; both aircraft landed safely and there were no injuries, though some passengers were shaken.
- United Flight 589 was a regularly scheduled service from Denver to John Wayne Airport carrying 162 passengers and six crew.
- Air traffic control warned the United pilots to watch for a nearby military helicopter; the crew visually spotted the Black Hawk, then received a TCAS traffic alert and a resolution advisory which prompted the evasive level‑off/go‑around. Controller‑pilot audio includes the controller saying, "We're gonna be addressing that because that was not good."
- The FAA has opened an investigation into the near miss and is specifically examining whether controllers followed its March 18 general notice that suspended use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters and requires radar‑based separation instead.
- The March 18 measure was issued after the Jan. 29, 2025 Black Hawk–American Airlines midair collision near Reagan National Airport that killed 67 people, and investigators are reviewing whether the new directive was applied at John Wayne and other airports.
- Union and safety advocates are using the incident to question FAA staffing and training at busy mixed‑use airfields where military and commercial traffic operate in constrained airspace.
- National outlets (including CBS, Fox News and The New York Times) covered the incident, reporting the controller audio, passenger and crew accounts of the TCAS alert and evasive maneuver, and noting the ongoing FAA probe.
📰 Source Timeline (5)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
March 27, 2026
12:51 PM
Close call between United Airlines flight, Black Hawk helicopter in California
New information:
- CBS segment confirms a California Air National Guard Black Hawk crossed the path of a United Airlines jet on approach in Southern California on Tuesday, consistent with the John Wayne Airport incident.
- It reiterates that the apparent near miss came after federal authorities tightened rules for helicopters operating around airports the previous week.
12:32 PM
United Airlines Flight Avoids Collision With Military Helicopter in California
New information:
- The New York Times identifies the United flight as a regularly scheduled service from Denver to John Wayne Airport, with detailed passenger and crew accounts of the TCAS alert and evasive maneuver.
- The article adds timing and altitude context for the conflict, reporting that the Black Hawk crossed in front of the 737 on final approach, prompting an abrupt level‑off and go‑around that left some passengers shaken but uninjured.
- It includes additional detail on the FAA’s new March 18 ban on visual separation at John Wayne and other airports after the January 29, 2025 Black Hawk–American Airlines midair collision, and notes that investigators are specifically examining whether local controllers followed that directive in this incident.
- The piece reports that union and safety advocates are already using the near miss to question FAA staffing and training at busy mixed‑use airfields where military and commercial traffic share constrained airspace.
1:29 AM
United jet dodges Black Hawk in last-second maneuver over California airport: 'That was not good'
New information:
- Confirms the aircraft was United Airlines Flight 589, a Boeing 737‑800 with 162 passengers and six crew on board.
- Details that air traffic control had warned the pilots to watch for a nearby military helicopter; the crew visually saw it and then got a TCAS traffic alert and resolution advisory, prompting them to level off.
- Reports controller‑pilot audio in which the pilot confirms a resolution advisory and the controller responds, “We’re gonna be addressing that because that was not good.”
- Notes the FAA is specifically investigating whether its new March 18 general notice suspending use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters was applied in this case, and describes that rule change as requiring radar-based separation instead.
- Links the new FAA measure directly to last year’s deadly Jan. 29, 2025 Black Hawk–American Airlines midair collision near Reagan National that killed 67 people.
12:24 AM
Close call in California involving United Airlines flight and Black Hawk helicopter
New information:
- CBS segment reiterates that a California Air National Guard Black Hawk crossed in front of a United Airlines flight on approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange County.
- The piece emphasizes this was a 'close call' but does not add new factual details beyond what is already reported: no injuries, both aircraft landed safely, and an FAA investigation is underway.
- It highlights that CBS transportation correspondent Kris Van Cleave is covering the incident, underscoring the level of national media attention but not altering the known facts.
March 26, 2026