Near Miss Between B-52 Bomber and Delta Flight in North Dakota
The US Air Force has stated that a B-52 bomber was following an approved flight path when it nearly collided with a Delta flight over North Dakota last Friday.
On Monday, the Air Force confirmed that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating the situation. The bomber was in the air for an aerial display at the North Dakota State Fair when the incident occurred.
According to the Air Force, the B-52 pilot was in communication with both Minot International Airport and Minot Approach Control (RAPCON). “Around 7:10 PM, prior to the flyover, the crew reached out to Minot Approach to prepare for the event. They completed the necessary checklist and maintained communication as they flew approximately 12 miles east of the fairground,” the statement noted.
“The Minot Approach directed the B-52 crew to contact air traffic control at Minot International Airport around 7:43 PM. Following this, the crew did reach out, receiving instructions to continue two miles west after passing the overpass.” The pilots of the Delta flight had to take proactive measures to avoid a collision with the military aircraft, resulting in an alarming announcement to passengers that circulated widely online.
This Delta flight was operating between Minneapolis and Minot, and after the stressful encounter, they continued to contact Minot International Airport multiple times while preparing to land.
As for the FAA, they affirmed that they are looking into the matter. “Skywest Flight 3788, functioning as a Delta connection from Minneapolis to Minot, had been cleared for landing but had to divert when another aircraft appeared on its flight path,” an FAA spokesperson said.
There is a video circulating that includes audio from the pilot, detailing the incident to passengers. “I don’t know how fast they are going, but they’re faster than us, and I thought the safest course of action was to maneuver away,” the pilot said in the audio, which has gained significant attention. “I’m sorry for the abrupt actions. It caught me off guard. This isn’t typical, and I don’t understand why we weren’t informed beforehand. There is radar at the Air Force Base.” It seems that the pilot found the situation a mix of odd and serious enough to warrant a thoughtful apology.
