Two passengers were injured on a United Airlines flight from Newark (EWR) to San Francisco (SFO) after the pilots abruptly slowed their descent to avoid a potential mid-air collision with two other aircraft.

 

Details of the Near Collision

United Airlines flight 2428 was operating a scheduled service between EWR and SFO on Thursday, September 19th. The Boeing 757-200, registered as N12125, took off from Newark at 10:15 a.m. local time. 

After over 5 hours of flight time, the United 757 began its initial descent into San Francisco. According to flight tracking data, the incident occurred above Lake Berryessa, only 75 miles from the San Francisco airport. ADS-B data showed a SkyWest flight just 1,000 feet below the United aircraft and a Southwest aircraft 3,000 feet below. 

 

The proximity of the SkyWest and Southwest aircraft caused a traffic collision avoidance system resolution advisory (“TCAS RA”), which forced the pilots to slow their descent dramatically. 

 

In a preliminary statement shared with PEOPLE, “United Airlines Flight 2428 responded to an onboard alert which occurred around 12:45 p.m. local time on Thursday, Sept. 19 in Oakland Air Route Traffic Control Center Airspace that another aircraft was in the vicinity… There was no loss of safe separation.”

According to audio from LiveATC.net, the pilots of UA2428 declared a medical emergency, with the pilots telling air traffic controllers “of at least one possible fractured ankle. I’m not sure about the other one. We had an RA and we pulled up and they got hurt when we were having the RA.” 

In a statement, a spokesperson for United said, “Two customers, including one who was out of their seat at the time, reported possible injuries and were transported to a hospital. We’re grateful to our crew for their efforts to ensure the safety of our employees and customers.” 

The airline says the seatbelt sign was on when it maneuvered to “account for another aircraft at a lower altitude.”

 

After resolving the traffic advisory, the United 757 continued its descent into SFO and landed safely 20 minutes later. The aircraft was met by medical and emergency personnel. Both of the injured passengers were taken to the hospital. 

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into the incident and the National Transportation Safety Board is gathering preliminary information on the matter.

 

 

Increase in Recent Incidents

United’s near-collision is the latest in a recent string of aircraft collision incidents. On September 10th, two Delta aircraft collided on the runway at Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport (ATL), leaving the tail of one regional jet almost completely severed from the fuselage. 
 

Two days later, an Alaska Airlines flight aborted takeoff at a high speed to avoid colliding with a Southwest 737 crossing the same runway.