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Cases › DCA25LA306 · Part 121 airline · Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish

AIRBUS INDUSTRIE A320-212DELTA AIR LINES INC

Chase City, VA, USA · 2025-08-28·N373NW

0
fatal
1
serious
Serious injury
highest injury
—
damage

What happened

NTSB summary, verbatim

On August 28, 2025, Delta Air Lines flight 737, an Airbus A320-212, experienced a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) resolution advisory (RA) while enroute from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington, DC. According to the flight crew, the airplane was level at flight level (FL) 290 when the crew requested a lower altitude from air traffic control (ATC) in preparation for arrival into DCA. ATC indicated there was traffic below them, cleared the flight to descend to FL280 and stated that further descent would be available after traffic below them was cleared. The captain selected FL280 and initiated the descent with the autopilot engaged. The first officer stated that airplane was descending at about 1,000 feet/min. While descending through about FL284, the flight crew received a TCAS RA instructing the crew to level off. The captain disengaged the autopilot and leveled off at about FL285. The flight crew reported the TCAS RA to ATC and resumed the descent to FL280 after the RA cleared. At the time of the TCAS RA, the flight attendants (FA) were beginning to prepare the cabin and galleys for landing. The FA in the aft galley was thrown to the floor, injuring both knees. She was assisted to her seat by the other FAs and several doctors and nurse passengers provided care for the remainder of the flight. The lead FA notified the flight crew of the injured FA. The flight crew contacted Delta to have medical personnel meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the injured FA was transported to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with fractures to both kneecaps. Two other FAs reported minor injuries but were not transported to the hospital.

Photographs

1the aircraft, and what the investigators found
The aircraft before the accident
Delta Air Lines A320-212, N373NW, MSN 1641 (12 2001), as DL 1125 Washington (IAD) - Atlanta (ATL), Flight time 1 25 (16003272529)
Charles from Port Chester, New York · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Probable cause

the Board's determination
The abrupt maneuver required to comply with a traffic alert and collision avoidance system resolution advisory during descent.

Occurrence sequence

1 stepsNTSB coding · CICTT taxonomy
  1. 1 · Enroute-descent
    Near midair/TCAS alert/loss of separation
    defining event

Findings

1 causal · 0 contributing
  • CAUSE
    Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control — Flight crew

NTSB analysis

from the final report

On August 28, 2025, Delta Air Lines flight 737, an Airbus A320-212, experienced a traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS) resolution advisory (RA) while enroute from Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Atlanta, Georgia, to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), Washington, DC. According to the flight crew, the airplane was level at flight level (FL) 290 when the crew requested a lower altitude from air traffic control (ATC) in preparation for arrival into DCA. ATC indicated there was traffic below them, cleared the flight to descend to FL280 and stated that further descent would be available after traffic below them was cleared. The captain selected FL280 and initiated the descent with the autopilot engaged. The first officer stated that airplane was descending at about 1,000 feet/min. While descending through about FL284, the flight crew received a TCAS RA instructing the crew to level off. The captain disengaged the autopilot and leveled off at about FL285. The flight crew reported the TCAS RA to ATC and resumed the descent to FL280 after the RA cleared. At the time of the TCAS RA, the flight attendants (FA) were beginning to prepare the cabin and galleys for landing. The FA in the aft galley was thrown to the floor, injuring both knees. She was assisted to her seat by the other FAs and several doctors and nurse passengers provided care for the remainder of the flight. The lead FA notified the flight crew of the injured FA. The flight crew contacted Delta to have medical personnel meet the airplane at the gate. After landing, the injured FA was transported to a local hospital, where she was diagnosed with fractures to both kneecaps. Two other FAs reported minor injuries but were not transported to the hospital.