Reports indicate that a JetBlue Airways pilot had a close call with a U.S. Air Force aircraft near Venezuela last weekend.
The event took place on Friday, as JetBlue Flight 1112 was traveling from Curacao to New York, according to multiple reports.
“There was traffic passing right in front of us, maybe two or three miles away. It was a U.S. Air Force refueling plane, and it was at our altitude,” the pilot recalled. “We had to cancel the climb.”
Subsequently, the Air Force plane entered Venezuelan airspace, the pilot noted.
In a recorded communication with air traffic control, the JetBlue pilot expressed, “We almost had a mid-air collision here.”
“They passed directly in our flight path. They didn’t turn on their transponders. That’s outrageous,” the pilot added.
According to CBS News, a tracking site reported it is unclear how close the planes were, as the U.S. aircraft “was flying without its transponder turned on.”
An Air Force spokesperson acknowledged the situation and mentioned that they are reviewing it.
“Military air crews are highly trained professionals who operate in line with established procedures and airspace requirements,” the spokesperson said. “Safety remains our top priority, and we are assessing the situation through the appropriate channels.”
The U.S. Southern Command also stated they are aware of the incident and looking into it.
Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration advised pilots to be careful when flying over Venezuela due to increasing military activity and a deteriorating security situation amid rising tensions with the U.S. over military operations against Caribbean drug traffickers.
As a result, several international airlines temporarily halted flights to Caracas. The Venezuelan government demanded that airlines resume flying, and some have complied, although six were previously banned for not meeting the regime’s demands.
In the meantime, a message from President Trump suggested closing the airspace around Venezuela entirely.
“To all airlines, pilots, drug traffickers, and human traffickers, please consider a complete closure of the airspace over and around Venezuela. Thank you for your interest in this issue!” the message stated.
