Pilot reports near mid-air collision
A JetBlue flight from Curaçao to New York was forced to halt its ascent on Friday after coming dangerously close to a US Air Force refuelling tanker, with the pilot blaming the military aircraft for crossing directly into its flight path.
The incident involved JetBlue flight 1112, which had departed from the Caribbean island of Curaçao, located off the coast of Venezuela, and was en route to John F Kennedy International Airport in New York.
“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot told air traffic control, according to a recorded transmission. “They passed directly in our flight path… They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”
‘We had to stop our climb’
In the audio recording, the pilot said the aircraft came within two to three miles of the US Air Force tanker, which was flying at the same altitude.
“We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within five miles of us — maybe two or three miles — but it was an air-to-air refueller from the United States Air Force,” the pilot said. “We had to stop our climb.”
The pilot further stated that the military aircraft subsequently headed into Venezuelan airspace, adding to concerns given the region’s heightened security situation.
Air traffic control acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, responding that it had been “outrageous with the unidentified aircraft within our air”.
JetBlue reports incident to authorities
JetBlue spokesperson Derek Dombrowski confirmed on Sunday that the airline had reported the incident to federal authorities.
“We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation,” he said. “Our crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team.”
No immediate response from US Air Force
The Pentagon referred queries to the US Air Force, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
The incident comes against the backdrop of increased US military activity in the Caribbean, including operations targeting suspected drug smugglers and efforts to intensify pressure on Venezuela’s government.
FAA warning on Venezuelan airspace
Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a warning advising US aircraft to “exercise caution” when operating in or near Venezuelan airspace, citing a worsening security situation and heightened military activity.
While no injuries or damage were reported, the close encounter has raised fresh questions about coordination between civilian and military aircraft, particularly in sensitive regions with elevated security risks.