The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into an incident on a United Airlines flight that left two passengers injured when pilots responded to an onboard collision warning system alert.
United Airlines flight 2428 from Newark, New Jersey, was descending into San Francisco International Airport last Thursday when it “slowed its descent to account for another aircraft at a lower altitude,” according to a company statement. Two passengers were taken to the hospital with injuries.
An FAA incident report indicates that one passenger sustained serious injuries and another minor injuries when pilots responded to a Traffic Collision Avoidance System Resolution Advisory (TCAS RA). These advisories are considered extreme warnings of a possible collision with another aircraft, requiring immediate pilot action.
FlightRadar24 data shows the incident occurred at 31,000 feet near Lake Berryessa, approximately 70 miles north of San Francisco. A Southwest Airlines flight was reportedly 3,000 feet below the United flight, with a SkyWest flight 1,000 feet below.
The FAA stated that “there was no loss of safe separation” between the aircraft. United Airlines confirmed that the seatbelt sign was on during the incident, and one of the injured passengers was out of their seat.
This event follows recent aviation safety concerns, including a September 12 incident where an Alaska Airlines flight aborted takeoff in Nashville due to a Southwest flight crossing the runway, and a September 10 incident involving a collision between a Delta Air Lines Airbus A350 and a regional jet during taxiing.
The National Transportation Safety Board is gathering preliminary information but has not yet launched a formal investigation.
