JetBlue Pilot Reports Near Midair Collision With US Military Aircraft Over Caribbean
A JetBlue pilot has reported a serious near-miss with a US military aircraft during a flight from Curaçao to New York, raising concerns about aviation safety in increasingly active Caribbean airspace.
JetBlue Flight 1112, en route to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Friday, was forced to halt its climb after coming dangerously close to a US Air Force refueling tanker. According to air traffic control recordings, the military aircraft crossed directly into the commercial jet’s flight path at the same altitude.
“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot told air traffic controllers. “They passed directly in our flight path. They don’t have their transponder turned on — it’s outrageous.”
The pilot said the tanker came within two to three miles of the JetBlue aircraft, prompting the crew to immediately stop the plane’s ascent to avoid a potential collision. After the incident, the military aircraft appeared to head toward Venezuelan airspace.
Air traffic controllers acknowledged the encounter, with one controller describing the situation as “outrageous” due to unidentified aircraft operating within the airspace.
The incident occurred amid increased US military activity in the Caribbean, where forces have expanded operations linked to anti-drug-trafficking efforts and heightened pressure on Venezuela’s government. Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory warning US aircraft to “exercise caution” when operating in or near Venezuelan airspace because of increased military activity and deteriorating security conditions.
JetBlue spokesperson Derek Dombrowski confirmed on Sunday that the airline has reported the incident to federal authorities and will cooperate fully with any investigation.
“Our crewmembers are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team,” Dombrowski said.
No injuries were reported, and the flight continued safely to its destination. An investigation is expected to determine how the military aircraft came into close proximity with the commercial flight and whether airspace coordination procedures were followed.
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