(Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include United Airlines’ comment)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), on Thursday, said that it is investigating an incident involving an Army Black Hawk helicopter and a Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA) 737-800 aircraft operated by United Airlines Holdings Inc. (NASDAQ:UAL) in California.

FAA Probes Close Call

The agency said it will probe the incident, which took place on Tuesday when the jet was approaching the John ​Wayne Airport in Santa Ana at 8:40 PM, when the Sikorsky Black Hawk passed in front of the plane. Data from Flightradar24 suggested that the two aircraft were separated vertically by a distance of over 500 feet.

FAA didn’t immediately respond to Benzinga‘s request for comment.

“During final approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange County, pilots on United flight 589 were advised by air traffic control to watch for a military helicopter flying near the airport,” a spokesperson for United Airlines told Benzinga in an emailed statement.

The aircraft, with 162 passengers and six crew, landed safely at the airport, the spokesperson confirmed.

The FAA said that it would also be investigating whether the new measure to “suspend the use of visual separation” between airplanes and helicopters during flights was applied at the time of the incident. A visual separation is a procedure that is used by controllers or pilots applying direct visual observation to maintain safe spacing between aircraft.

The American Airlines Incident

The news comes after last year in January, an American Airlines Group Inc. (NASDAQ:AAL) regional jet collided with a Black Hawk helicopter. The incident resulted in the deaths of 67 people and took place near the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport.

Since the incident, the FAA has issued restrictions for helicopter traffic around the Reagan Airport while also imposing restrictions at other airports.

United Airlines CEO Urges End Of Shutdown

Meanwhile, United CEO Scott Kirby shared that air fares could rise amid the partial government shutdown and the surging jet fuel costs due to the situation in the Middle East.

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