Close call between United Airlines flight, Black Hawk helicopter in California

A California Air National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crossed the flight path of a United Airlines aircraft in Southern California on Tuesday in what authorities are investigating as a near-miss incident. The close call occurs just days after the Transportation Security Administration tightened operational rules for helicopters in airspace around airports, suggesting potential gaps in compliance or coordination between military and commercial aviation operations. The incident underscores ongoing safety concerns in congested airspace where military aircraft, commercial flights, and civilian helicopters operate in proximity to major airports. Near-miss events between aircraft are tracked and investigated by the FAA to identify systemic safety risks and prevent collisions. The timing raises questions about whether the new TSA helicopter restrictions are being uniformly implemented across all operators, including military units.