US FAA to investigate close call between Delta flight and Air Force jet

The FAA said it will investigate a close call that occurred on Friday between a Delta Air Lines flight and a U.S. Air Force jet near Reagan Washington National Airport. The incident follows a mid-air collision on January 29 near the same airport involving a passenger jet a U.S. Army helicopter, which killed 67 in the first deadly U.S. passenger airline crash in 16 years. A series of troubling near-miss incidents over the past two years has raised concerns about U.S. aviation safety and the strain on understaffed air traffic control operations. On Friday, Delta Flight 2389, an Airbus A319 headed for Minneapolis, was cleared for takeoff around 3:15 p.m. ET (1915 GMT), while four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons were inbound to nearby Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover, the FAA said. The Delta jet received a cockpit collision warning alert that another aircraft was nearby, and controllers issued corrective instructions to both aircraft, it said. Senator Amy Klobuchar, who represents Minnesota, called the incident "unbelievably dangerous and thank God people are safe. My first call to Department of Defense tomorrow: why are your planes flying 500 feet (150 meters) below passenger jets full of Minnesotans." The Pentagon said it was aware of reports about Friday's incident but did not have an immediate comment. Delta, which said there were five crew on board and 131 passengers, said "the flight crew followed procedures to maneuver the aircraft as instructed... We will cooperate with regulators and aviation stakeholders in any review of this flight."<br/>