SAN FRANCISCO- The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into a recent incident on United Airlines (UA) flight 2428, where two passengers sustained injuries following a sudden maneuver triggered by an onboard collision warning system.
The event occurred as the aircraft approached San Francisco International Airport (SFO) from Newark (EWR), New Jersey last Thursday (September 19, 2024).
United Midair Collision
United Airlines reported that the flight crew slowed the plane’s descent in response to another aircraft detected at a lower altitude. This action resulted in injuries to two passengers, who were subsequently transported to a hospital for treatment.
According to the FAA’s incident report, the pilots were responding to a Traffic Collision Avoidance System Resolution Advisory (TCAS RA). These advisories signify an imminent collision risk with another aircraft and require immediate action from pilots.
FlightRadar24 data pinpoints the incident’s location near Lake Berryessa, approximately 70 miles north of San Francisco, at an altitude of 31,000 feet.
The tracking service identified two other flights in the vicinity: a Southwest Airlines (WN) flight 3,000 feet below and a SkyWest (OO) flight 1,000 feet below the United aircraft.
Despite the alarming nature of the incident, the FAA has stated that there was no compromise in safe separation between the aircraft involved.
The aircraft involved in the incident is Boeing 757-200, registered as N12125. The aircraft is 26.7 year-old and is powered by RR engines.
Medical Emergency
Audio recordings from LiveATC.net reveal the pilots declaring a medical emergency. They informed Oakland air traffic controllers that a passenger might have suffered a broken ankle, with multiple travelers sustaining injuries during the Resolution Advisory (RA) event.
United Airlines confirmed to CNN that the seatbelt sign was illuminated during the incident. The airline disclosed that one of the injured passengers had left their seat at the time of the occurrence.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has not yet launched a formal investigation.
However, an NTSB spokesperson said that the agency is actively gathering preliminary information about the event.
Similar Incidents
This incident adds to a series of recent aviation safety concerns. On September 12, an Alaska Airlines (AS) flight aborted its takeoff in Nashville when a Southwest flight crossed the same runway.
Just two days earlier, a collision occurred between a Delta Air Lines (DL) Airbus A350 and a smaller regional jet during taxiing, resulting in the regional jet’s tail detachment.
Earlier in July 2024, the FAA initiated the investigation into a near-collision incident involving American Airlines (AA) and Delta Air Lines aircraft in Syracuse, New York.
An apparent air traffic control error led to the close encounter. Controllers initially cleared American Eagle Flight AA5511, a Bombardier CRJ-700 operated by PSA Airlines, for landing on runway 28. Shortly after, they granted permission to Delta Connection DL5421, another CRJ-700 operated by Endeavor Air, to depart from the same runway.
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The post United Passengers Injured as Flight Crew Tried to Avoid Midair Collision appeared first on Aviation A2Z.