United Airlines Flight 589 avoided a collision with a Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopter near John Wayne Airport in Orange County, California, on Tuesday evening, prompting an immediate Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigation. The incident occurred as the commercial jet approached the airport, with the helicopter crossing its path. The FAA confirmed it is examining whether visual separation procedures were in place during the close call. This near miss follows the agency's suspension of visual separation rules around busy airports just days earlier, a move triggered by a fatal crash near Washington D.C. last year.

The suspension of visual separation, which allowed helicopters and small planes to navigate crowded skies independently, was implemented after an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided with American Airlines Flight 5342 near Reagan National Airport in June 2025, killing all 67 people on board. The helicopter involved in Tuesday's incident was also a U.S. Army Black Hawk, according to flight tracking data. The Army did not immediately provide details. United Airlines stated that air traffic controllers had warned pilots of Flight 589 about the military helicopter, and the pilots responded by leveling the aircraft instead of descending further, ensuring a safe landing with 162 passengers and six crew members aboard.

The incident underscores the FAA's heightened focus on safety protocols following the fatal Washington crash and coincides with another runway incident at LaGuardia Airport in New York, where an airport fire truck collided with an Air Canada flight, killing both pilots. These events highlight the ongoing challenges of managing airspace safety amidst increased military and civilian air traffic, with the FAA's investigation into the California near miss expected to determine the precise cause and potential regulatory changes.