FAA investigating close call between passenger jet, Army helicopter in California

The FAA is investigating a near-collision between a United Airlines passenger jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter near Santa Ana, California, on Tuesday evening. United Flight 589 was descending toward John Wayne Airport around 8:40 p.m. when the Sikorsky helicopter crossed directly in front of the commercial aircraft. Such incidents are taken seriously by federal aviation authorities because of the catastrophic safety risks posed by mid-air collisions between aircraft. The investigation will likely examine the helicopter's flight path, communication between the two aircraft, and whether proper separation protocols were followed. Close calls of this nature often trigger reviews of airspace management and coordination between military and civilian aviation operations in congested areas.