FAA investigating near-collision of three jets at D.C. airport

WASHINGTON — The FAA is investigating how three commuter jets narrowly avoided a midair collision near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport outside the nation's capital.

The Washington Post reported that the three planes were operated by US Airways and were carrying 192 passengers and crew members. It cited federal officials with direct knowledge of the incident.

The federal agency said in an e-mailed statement that it will take “appropriate action to address the miscommunication” that led to the incident Tuesday afternoon. It says that due to bad weather, air traffic controllers switched landing and departing operations and miscommunication “led to a loss of the required separation” between the jets.

USAirways spokesman Todd Lehmacher said in an e-mail that the airline is “currently investigating and working with the FAA to determine what occurred.”

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