Close call between Delta flight and Air Force jet near Reagan National under investigation

A Delta Air Lines flight departing Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington, D.C., had a close call with an Air Force jet just after takeoff on Friday afternoon. Fortunately, both flights continued to their destinations without incident.

The incident occurred shortly after Delta Flight 2983, an Airbus A319, had taken off from Reagan International at around 3:15 p.m. Eastern Time en route to Minneapolis, Minnesota, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

At the same time, four U.S. Air Force T-38 Talons were in the area heading to Arlington National Cemetery for a flyover, as reported by the FAA.

Flight data from FlightRadar.com indicated that one of the T-38 jets was flying at an altitude of 875 feet.

The Delta flight crew received an alert about the nearby aircraft and air traffic controllers promptly issued corrective instructions to both aircraft, the FAA confirmed.

Although the exact proximity of the fighter jet to the passenger plane is unclear, the Delta flight had 131 passengers, two pilots, and three flight attendants on board at the time, as confirmed by a Delta spokesperson to CBS News.

The flight crew also followed instructions from the Traffic Alert and Collision Avoidance System, an FAA device designed to prevent mid-air collisions.

Following the incident, one of the Delta pilots inquired with Reagan air traffic controllers about the nearby aircraft, to which the controller confirmed the proximity, as per audio from LiveATC.net.

Delta Airlines emphasized the importance of customer and crew safety, stating that the flight crew adhered to procedures and maneuvered the aircraft as instructed.

CBS News has reached out to the Air Force for a statement regarding the incident, while the FAA has announced plans to investigate the matter.

This incident comes in the aftermath of the tragic midair collision on Jan. 29 between a Black Hawk helicopter and an American Airlines flight near Reagan National Airport, resulting in the loss of 67 lives, marking it as the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster since 2001.