Washington ( CNN ) -- Three U.S. Airways-operated jets at Reagan National Airport came closer than they should have because of an air traffic control `` miscommunication , '' federal authorities said Thursday . The incident occurred Tuesday afternoon when air traffic controllers were making adjustments for landing and departing aircraft because of bad weather . Chautauqua Airlines flight 3071 came within 800 vertical feet and .82 nautical miles after take-off of an arriving aircraft , identified as Republic Airlines flight 3329 , authorities said . TSA credits officers with rescuing kidnapped woman . The third plane involved was Republic Airlines flight 3467 , which was taking off and came within 2.07 nautical miles and 800 vertical feet of the arriving flight . `` During the switchover of operations , miscommunication between the Tracon and the DCA tower led to a loss of the required separation between two regional jets departing from Runway 1 and a regional jet inbound for Runway 19 , '' the Federal Aviation Administration said . `` Tracon , '' or terminal radar approach control , is a reference to a regional radar facility . `` DCA '' is the International Air Transport Association code for Reagan National Airport . `` At no point were the three aircrafts on a head-to-head course , '' said Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood . The FAA is investigating and plans to take `` appropriate action to address the miscommunication . '' `` Such near misses and any operational errors are calls to action , '' said Rep. John L. Mica , R-Florida . `` I 'm asking our Aviation Subcommittee staff and FAA to thoroughly review what happened . '' Based on tower recordings , a controller told one of the pilots to `` hold on , we 're trying to figure this out . '' `` We really do n't have the fuel for this , '' the pilot responded . `` We 've got to get on the ground pretty quick . '' The controller then said , `` Everybody stand by . We 've got a couple of opposite direction arrivals , so it 's gon na be a little bit of a delay in your departures . '' Passenger finds needle in Air Canada sandwich . US Airways issued a statement saying , `` We are currently investigating and working with the FAA to determine what occurred . The safety of our customers and employees is always our top priority . '' The National Transportation Safety Board said Thursday that it will investigate . Its probe will involve a review of communications recordings and radar data , as well as interviews with supervisors and controllers in coming days , according to NTSB spokesman Eric M. Weiss . `` Safety is NATCA 's top priority , '' added Paul Rinaldi , president of the National Air Traffic Controllers Association . `` We are always looking to enhance the safety and efficiency of the National Airspace System , and we will participate in any investigation that looks into improving the system . '' Last year , an air traffic controller was suspended for failing to respond to two planes heading into National Airport after he fell asleep on the midnight shift . The two planes landed without incident . Suspicious object that forces plane to divert is unclaimed camera . CNN 's Mike Ahlers contributed to this report .
NEW : A plane came within 800 vertical feet and less than one nautical mile of another aircraft . The incident occurred during adjustments for bad weather . US Airways says it is investigating . Comment: