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NTSB Publishes Preliminary Report on Reagan National Near Miss

Agency’s investigation into loss of separation incident remains ongoing.

Thursday, July 03, 2025 at 04:13 PM ET

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Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport [Credit: Mark Stebnicki/Pexels]

Key Takeaways:

A near-miss incident occurred on March 28 near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) between a U.S. Air Force T-38 formation (DRAGO61) and a Delta Air Lines A319 (DL2983).
The aircraft came within 0.64 nautical miles horizontally and 100 feet vertically, with the military formation visually identifying and maintaining separation.
The incident stemmed from an Air Traffic Control (ATC) misinterpretation of a "hard stop" directive for departures, leading to the Delta flight being cleared for takeoff minutes before the military formation's scheduled pass.
The NTSB is currently investigating the incident, focusing on ATC communication and procedures, with no damage or injuries reported.

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The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating a loss of separation incident that occurred between DRAGO61, a flight of four U.S. Air Force T-38s, and Delta Air Lines Flight 2983, an Airbus A319. The near miss happened approximately 0.6 miles south of Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (KDCA) at about 3:16 p.m. EDT.

This incident occurred on March 28, around two months after the deadly midair collision between an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a CRJ-700, killing all 67 on both aircraft.

Ryan is Group President for Firecrown's Aviation Group. In 2013, he founded AirlineGeeks.com, a leading trade publication covering the airline industry. Since then, his work has been featured in several publications and news outlets, including CNN, WJLA, CNET, and Business Insider. During his time in the airline industry, he's worked in roles pertaining to airport/airline operations while holding a B.S. in Air Transportation Management from Arizona State University along with an MBA. Previously, he worked for a Part 135 operator and later a major airline. Ryan is also an Adjunct Instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.