WASHINGTON, March 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal

Aviation Administration said on Thursday it was investigating a

close call between a United Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk

helicopter in California.

The FAA said the United Boeing 737-800 jet on Tuesday at

8:40 p.m. was on final approach to John Wayne Airport in Orange

County, California, and a Black Hawk crossed in front of the

plane. Flightradar24, a flight tracking site, said the aircraft

were 525 feet apart vertically.

The FAA is also investigating whether the incident violated

its new policy that bars visual separation for helicopters near

major airports.

United said Flight 589, which had departed from San

Francisco, had been advised by air traffic control to watch for

a military helicopter flying near the airport. They saw the

helicopter, and also received a cockpit traffic alert, and

pilots responded by leveling the aircraft and then landed

safely.

The plane had 162 passengers and six crew.

Two U.S. House committees approved legislation on Thursday

to address concerns about separation between helicopters and

airplanes and other issues.

The legislation and FAA rules follow the January 2025

mid-air collision between an American Airlines ( AAL ) regional

jet and Army Black Hawk helicopter that killed ​67 people near

Reagan Washington National Airport.

The FAA cited two recent incidents in issuing ​the new rules

including a near miss involving an ⁠American Airlines flight and

police helicopter near the San Antonio ​airport.

The helicopter and aircraft were on converging courses when

the helicopter ​made a left turn to avoid the American Airlines ( AAL )

flight, the FAA said.

On March 2, a Beechcraft 99 was cleared ​to land at Burbank

Airport in southern California as a helicopter ​was flying

through the final approach path. The aircraft were on converging

courses ‌when ⁠the helicopter turned to avoid the Beechcraft.

"Where helicopters cross airport arrival or departure paths,

air traffic controllers will use radar to keep ​the aircraft

specific ​lateral or vertical ⁠distances apart," the FAA said.

After the 2025 collision, ⁠the ​FAA restricted helicopter

traffic around Reagan Washington ​National Airport and has

imposed restrictions at other airports including Baltimore, Las

Vegas and Washington ​Dulles.