WASHINGTON — A JetBlue flight from Curaçao halted its ascent Friday to avoid a collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker, with the pilot reporting the military plane crossed its path and lacked a transponder signal.
JetBlue Flight Avoids Mid-Air Collision
“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of the conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. … They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”
The incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112, traveling from Curaçao, just off the coast of Venezuela, to New York City’s JFK airport. It occurred as the U.S. military has increased its drug interdiction activities in the Caribbean and seeks to increase pressure on Venezuela’s government.
The pilot stated the Air Force plane was at the same altitude and passed within 2 to 3 miles of the JetBlue aircraft. “We had to stop our climb,” the pilot said, adding that the Air Force plane subsequently entered Venezuelan airspace.
Derek Dombrowski, a JetBlue spokesman, said Sunday the incident has been reported to federal authorities and the airline will participate in 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,” he added.
The Pentagon referred inquiries to the Air Force, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Associated Press writer Ben Finley contributed to this report.
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