Rep. Dave Min Leads OC Delegation in Letter Demanding FAA Briefing After Black Hawk Near-Miss with Commercial Flight Near John Wayne Airport

Washington, D.C. - Representative Dave Min led members of Orange County's congressional delegation in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration raising serious concerns over a recent near-miss between a California National Guard Black Hawk helicopter and a commercial passenger aircraft approaching John Wayne Airport. Reps. Min, Tran, Correa, Levin, and Sánchez requested a member-level briefing from the Federal Aviation Administration on the ongoing investigation.

According to federal officials, on March 24, 2026, a California National Guard Black Hawk helicopter departing from Joint Forces Training Base Los Alamitos entered the flight path of a United Airlines Boeing 737 on final approach to John Wayne Airport. The commercial aircraft was forced to halt its descent and level off to avoid a collision, passing within approximately 500 feet of the helicopter.

"Orange County families deserve complete confidence that the airspace above one of the busiest regions in the country is being managed safely," said the representatives. "A near collision involving a military helicopter and a commercial passenger flight over a densely populated community is deeply concerning. We need a full accounting of what happened, whether safety protocols were followed, and what corrective steps are being taken to ensure this never happens again."

In the letter, the delegation also requested clarification on whether recently adopted FAA procedures governing visual separation between aircraft and helicopters were in effect at the time of the incident. This measure was adopted in response to the tragic January 2025 crash near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport that killed 67 people.

The members requested an in-person or virtual briefing within 60 days, including updates on the FAA's investigation, preliminary findings, and any corrective measures under consideration.

The full letter is available here.

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