A JetBlue passenger flight bound for New York was forced to take evasive action on Friday to avoid a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force tanker plane near Venezuelan airspace, according to air traffic control recordings.
JetBlue Flight 1112 had departed from Curaçao and was flying approximately 40 miles (64 km) off Venezuela’s coast when the Airbus A320 encountered the military aircraft. The Air Force jet reportedly had its transponder turned off, leaving it undetectable to civilian radar systems.
Pilot Reports “Outrageous” Encounter
In a recording captured by liveatc.net, the JetBlue pilot can be heard reporting that the military plane was just a few miles away and flying at the same altitude. “They passed directly in our flight path… They don’t have their transponder turned on. It’s outrageous,” the pilot said. Moments later, the Air Force jet crossed into Venezuelan airspace. “We almost had a mid-air collision up here,” the pilot added.
Safety Concerns Echo Previous Deadly Crash
The incident has reignited concerns in Washington over air safety and coordination between civilian and military aircraft. Senator Ted Cruz, Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, referenced the January 29 crash near Reagan National Airport, when an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight, killing 67 people. That helicopter was not equipped with an Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast (ADS-B) system, an advanced tracking technology that transmits real-time aircraft positions.
“Why do we continue to tolerate near misses?” Cruz asked during a Monday press briefing. Senator Maria Cantwell, the committee’s top Democrat, also condemned the incident, saying, “You don’t have corridors where military aircraft and commercial planes are flying and not letting each other know they are in that space. We just can’t have that.”
Both senators are pushing to remove a clause from a pending defence bill that would allow military aircraft to operate in Washington, D.C. airspace without using ADS-B transmitters.
JetBlue and U.S. Military Respond
A JetBlue spokesperson reaffirmed that passenger and crew safety remains the airline’s top priority. “Our crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate their professionalism in handling this one,” the company said. The airline confirmed it had reported the incident to U.S. authorities and will cooperate with any investigation.
U.S. Southern Command acknowledged awareness of the event and said it is reviewing the circumstances. “Our aircrews are highly trained professionals who operate in accordance with established procedures and applicable airspace requirements. Safety remains a top priority,” the military said in a statement.
Heightened Tensions Over Venezuelan Airspace
The near-miss comes amid increased U.S. military activity in the southern Caribbean, as Washington maintains pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently warned commercial airlines of “potentially hazardous conditions” over Venezuelan airspace, advising extra caution. Many major airlines have already suspended flights to the region amid rising tensions.
The FAA has not yet commented on the JetBlue incident.
with inputs from Reuters
