Air traffic controllers at a North Dakota airport did not inform the crew of a B-52 bomber that commercial flights were also in the area, according to military sources.
In a statement released late Monday, the Air Force said that the B-52 crew notified Minot International Airport’s air traffic control about their approach to an area where SkyWest Airlines pilots were also preparing to land on July 18.
The Air Force commented, “The Tower did not inform us about inbound commercial aircraft.”
In a surprising turn, the pilot of passenger flight 3788, which had just departed from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport, had to make a sharp maneuver to avoid colliding with the B-52. Both aircraft landed safely, but the commercial flight’s passengers recorded a video where the pilot explained what occurred over the intercom. He mentioned needing to make “aggressive” adjustments upon spotting the bomber in the flight path.
“I apologize for the sudden maneuver. It caught me off guard,” the pilot remarked. “This isn’t typical. I’m not sure why they didn’t communicate with us.”
SkyWest Airlines is a subsidiary of Delta Air Lines.
The Air Force stated that the bombers were engaged in pre-approved flyovers at Minot International Airport, coordinated with the air traffic control team at the military base, with clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration.
Before the flyover, the B-52 crew made contact with both the base and the airport’s control tower. At 7:40 PM, they informed the base of their departure from support points near the fairgrounds. Just three minutes later, they were directed to get in touch with the airport’s control team.
The Air Force noted that once the crew contacted Minot International Airport Tower, they received instructions to maintain two miles west after the overpass. However, the tower did not relay any information regarding incoming commercial flights.
The overpass occurred at 7:50 PM, with the B-52 proceeding west, following instructions to clear the airport’s airspace.
Investigations are ongoing by the FAA, Air Force, and SkyWest regarding this incident, which adds to a recent pattern of air safety concerns.
Earlier this year, on January 29, a tragic collision happened between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter in Washington, D.C., resulting in 67 fatalities. It was later revealed that the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter had been operating in airspace that should have been clear, leading to the accident.
Another incident occurred on February 17, when a Delta-owned flight from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport had an emergency landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. Though all 76 passengers and four crew members survived, 21 individuals sustained injuries.
In late February, a Southwest Airlines flight at Chicago’s Midway Airport had to ascend rapidly to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway.
The FAA noted on Monday that the controllers at the Minot Air Traffic Control Tower are not directly employed by them but are private contractors.
