Midair Collision Warning Incident Under Investigation

Two passengers were injured on a United Airlines flight after pilots responded to a midair collision warning, prompting investigations by the FAA and NTSB.

At a Glance

A United Airlines flight 2428 from Newark to San Francisco experienced a midair collision warning on September 19, 2024.
Two passengers were reportedly injured when the plane slowed its descent to avoid another aircraft.
The incident occurred near Lake Berryessa at an altitude of 31,000 feet.
The FAA stated there was no compromise in safe separation between the aircraft.

Incident Details

On September 19, 2024, United Airlines flight 2428, a Boeing 757-200 aircraft, was approaching San Francisco International Airport when it responded to a Traffic Collision Avoidance System Resolution Advisory (TCAS RA). The incident occurred near Lake Berryessa, approximately 70 miles north of San Francisco, at an altitude of 31,000 feet. The flight crew took action to slow the plane’s descent in response to another aircraft detected at a lower altitude, resulting in two passengers being transported to the hospital.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), two other flights were in the vicinity at the time: a Southwest Airlines flight 3,000 feet below and a SkyWest flight 1,000 feet below the United aircraft. Despite the proximity of these flights, the FAA has stated that there was no compromise in safe separation between the aircraft.

Two United Airlines passengers injured when plane flying to SFO tried to avoid a collision https://t.co/sB0geKHELk

— Los Angeles Times (@latimes) September 25, 2024

Possible Injuries and Emergency Response

The incident reportedly resulted in injuries to two passengers, with one appearing to suffer serious injuries and the other minor injuries. Audio recordings from LiveATC.net reveal that the pilots declared a medical emergency, with one passenger potentially suffering a broken ankle. United Airlines said that the seatbelt sign was illuminated during the incident, but one of the passengers in question had left their seat.

United Airlines said that the passengers in question reported “possible” injuries and were brought to the hospital.

The aircraft, a 26.7-year-old Boeing 757-200 registered as N12125, landed safely at San Francisco International Airport following the incident. Emergency services were on standby to provide immediate medical attention to the injured passengers upon landing.

Ongoing Investigations

Both the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident. The NTSB has not launched a formal investigation but is gathering preliminary information. The FAA’s incident report confirms that the pilots were responding to a TCAS RA, which serves as a last defense against mid-air collisions.

United Airlines has stated that they are cooperating fully with the investigations. The alert originated from the Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center Airspace, but information on the other aircraft involved has not been released. As the investigations continue, authorities will work to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision warning and subsequent injuries.

Recent Aviation Safety Concerns

This incident is part of a series of recent aviation safety concerns that have drawn attention to the industry. In recent months, there have been several near-miss incidents and collisions that have raised questions about air traffic control procedures and overall flight safety.

For instance, an Alaska Airlines flight aborted takeoff in Nashville earlier this month due to a Southwest flight crossing the runway. In another recent incident, a collision occurred between a Delta Airbus A350 and a regional jet during taxiing. Additionally, a near-collision incident on the runway involved American Airlines and Delta Air Lines in Syracuse, New York, due to an air traffic control error earlier this year.

There has been ongoing scrutiny of airline operations and air traffic control procedures. The FAA has responded by holding safety summits and increasing oversight of airlines. As investigations into these events continue, the aviation industry faces the challenge of maintaining and improving safety standards in an increasingly complex space.