Black Hawk helicopter. Photo: Algimantas Barzdzius / Shutterstock The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating an incident that took place on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Santa Ana, California, at approximately 8:40 PM local time.
According to the FAA, "United Airlines Flight 589 was on approach to John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, California, when a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter crossed in front of United's flight path."
The authority is now assessing the circumstances of the near-miss incident as well as whether a new measure to suspend the use of visual separation between airplanes and helicopters had been in place or not.
The incident comes more than a year after an army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet over Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, causing 67 fatalities.
On Sunday, March 22, 2026, an Air Canada jet landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport collided with a firetruck on the runway. Two pilots lost their lives, and several people were injured.