Vice Chair of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, Katrina Foley, has sent a letter to federal aviation officials following a near miss involving United Flight 589 and a California Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter on March 24, 2026. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported that the two aircraft came within 525 feet of each other near John Wayne Airport, prompting concerns over airspace safety.
Foley’s letter requests answers regarding:
- The appropriateness of the Black Hawk’s route and altitude
- Compliance with FAA separation procedures
- Potential restrictions on military helicopter operations near the airport
- Coordination among federal, military, and local agencies
- Plans for reviewing combined military and civilian operations at John Wayne Airport
“This incident demands immediate scrutiny,” Foley stated, emphasizing the need for the FAA to clarify whether current procedures are adequate to ensure safety.
The FAA’s involvement follows a series of safety reforms, including the suspension of visual separation procedures in certain airspace, initiated after a fatal midair collision in January 2025 involving a Black Hawk and a commercial jet…