Washington, D.C
A Delta Air Lines plane and a US Air Force jet had a near miss close to Washington's Reagan Airport
A Delta Air Lines flight and a US Air Force aircraft had a near miss near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, just two months after a midair collision near the same airport killed more than 60 people.
The incident occurred on Friday, March 28, at 3:16 p.m. when Delta Flight 2983, an Airbus A319, had just received takeoff clearance.
At the same time, four US Air Force T-38 Talons were inbound to Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover. The T-38 Talon is a two-seat supersonic jet used to train pilots.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the Delta pilot received an onboard alert that another aircraft was nearby. Air traffic controllers quickly issued corrective instructions to both planes, preventing a collision. The FAA has launched an investigation.
Flight tracking footage and audio communications, shared by VASAviation on YouTube, show just how close the two aircraft came. Both flights continued to their destinations without further incident.
“Nothing is more important than the safety of our customers and people. That’s why the flight crew followed procedures to maneuver the aircraft as instructed,” a Delta spokesperson told Business Insider.
The near-miss incident came almost exactly two months after an American Airlines flight collided with a Black Hawk helicopter close to the same airport, killing 67 people.
Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, located just outside Washington, DC, is home to the country’s busiest runway, with over 800 takeoffs and landings per day.
The airport is the closest of three area airports to the city, about 3 miles south of the White House. Its proximity to Capitol Hill makes it a favorite of lawmakers.
Military helicopters also frequently fly low over the nearby Potomac River, transiting between military bases close by and the Pentagon, about a mile north of the airport.
Flying into and out of Reagan Airport, with short runways and such heavily restricted airspace nearby, is “like threading a needle,” one pilot previously told Business Insider.
Following the January incident, Brian Alexander, a military helicopter pilot and a partner at the aviation accident law firm Kreindler & Kreindler, told BI that a shortage of air traffic controllers and increasing airspace congestion had affected safety.
“Our whole air traffic control system has been blinking red, screaming at us that we’ve got it overloaded,” he said at the time.
More broadly, air traffic congestion has become a growing concern. According to a January report from the National Transportation Safety Board, there were more than 15,000 close calls between commercial airplanes and helicopters from October 2021 to December 2024.
Armored tanks arrive in DC for Trump’s military birthday parade
As Washington, D.C. prepares for the 250th anniversary of the U.S. Army, armored tanks have begun to arrive ahead of Saturday’s celebration.
Preparations are underway for the U.S. Army’s 250th anniversary parade in Washington D.C., which also falls on President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday.
Held in the nation’s capital, the event is set to include Army parachutists jumping from aircraft, landing and giving Trump an American flag for his birthday, Pentagon officials said, according to Axios.
More than two dozen M1 Abrams tanks, scores of infantry vehicles and thousands of soldiers are also expected to be involved in the event.
A rare sight in Washington D.C., the last major military parade was held in 1991 to celebrate the end of the first Gulf War. The large military movement into the city comes only days after Trump sent 4,000 National Guard troops and 700 Marines to Los Angeles amid an immigration crackdown and protests.
With only days before the Saturday, June 14 event, tanks, helicopters and other military vehicles are beginning to stage in the nation’s capital.
Photos: Preparations underway for US Army’s 250th anniversary parade
Contributing: George Petras and Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
DC leaders announce plan to increase waterfront access in Georgetown
Changes are coming to the Georgetown Waterfront. District leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday morning to increase public access, specifically for non-motorized boating activities along the Potomac River, after a decade in the making. The District, Georgetown University and the National Park Service will take part in land swap.
WASHINGTON – Changes are coming to the Georgetown Waterfront.
D.C. leaders unveiled a plan Tuesday morning to increase public access, specifically for non-motorized boating activities along the Potomac River, after a decade in the making. The District, Georgetown University and the National Park Service will take part in land swap.
What we know:
D.C. officials say Georgetown will donate a parcel of land on the Potomac River to the National Park Service to be added to the boundary of the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park. This will allow for a continuous path from the Capital Crescent Trail to the Georgetown Waterfront Park.
The National Park will then transfer jurisdiction of two parcels at the base of the Key Bridge to the district, which will then transfer the site to the west of the bridge to Georgetown to create a university boathouse, serving as a hub for the men’s and women’s rowing teams.
“Mayor Bowser has made this a big point. D.C. is a waterfront city and we’ve got wonderful access to the water and recreational opportunities, and this final push to complete the land swap is going to unlock this access to the river at this particular point which is right under the Key Bridge,” said Nina Albert, D.C. Deputy Mayor for planning and economic development.
Dig deeper:
Georgetown will provide year-round public access to the boathouse docks, giving the community access to kayak, paddle board and canoe along the Potomac River.
This increased access will benefit rowers, like D.C. resident Ivin Boddy, who frequents the Potomac River.
“I think it would increase more of our foreign visitors and our domestic visitors coming to town. So, I think it would definitely do some great justice for them,” Boddy said.
Others like D.C. resident Zaidun Jawdat, who frequents the area often, are curious to see what eventually happens.
“We enjoy it completely. We’re happy with it,” said Jawdat.
“I’m not sure just how much is going to change. I guess if they invest in structures and docking wharfs – maybe that changes the character.”
The land transaction is currently being finalized – and residents should expect to see changes within the next few years.
Washington, D.C
Showers, storms possible Tuesday across DC region; Canada wildfire smoke returns Wednesday
WASHINGTON – A humid and cloudy Tuesday across the D.C. area, with highs in the mid-80s and a chance of showers and thunderstorms.
Morning temperatures range from the upper 60s to low 70s, with dense air making outdoor conditions uncomfortable.
Storms and humidity
What we know:
Spotty showers may develop early, particularly south toward Fredericksburg and southern Maryland, as well as northwest near Hagerstown and parts of West Virginia.
A cold front is expected to move through later in the day, bringing relief from high humidity and reducing the risk of showers and storms.
Temperatures should peak around 84 degrees, with a chance of pop-up storms through the afternoon. Skies will clear overnight, and humidity will drop, leading to drier conditions by Wednesday.
Wildfire smoke returns
Wednesday will be less humid, though Canadian wildfire smoke is expected to return, creating hazy sunshine.
By late this week, clouds will build again as temperatures rise, bringing unsettled weather heading into the weekend.
The Source: Information in this article comes from the FOX 5 Weather Team and the National Weather Service.
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