FAA Investigates Fighter Close Call in Texas

The FAA is investigating a close call between a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C jet and two civilian aircraft in Austin, Texas, in September.

Meg Godlewski

Monday, October 16, 2023 at 04:41 PM ET

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F/A-18 Hornet [Credit: U.S. Marine Corps/Cpl. Ryan Ulibarri]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA and U.S. Marine Corps are investigating a close call involving an F/A-18C jet and two civilian aircraft (a Cessna Citation and a Piper PA-28) in Austin, Texas, in September.
The incident involved the Cessna pilot taking evasive action due to the F/A-18's proximity and the jet overflying a Piper PA-28 preparing for takeoff.
Initial reports and radio traffic indicate a miscommunication between the F/A-18 pilot and air traffic control contributed to the near collisions.

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The FAA is investigating a close call between a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18C jet and two civilian aircraft in Austin, Texas, in September.

According to a statement from the FAA, at around noon CDT on September 23 the pilot of a Cessna Citation at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (KAUS) received an onboard alert that the F/A-18C Hornet was nearby. The pilot of the Cessna Citation “took evasive action.”