JetBlue Flight Nearly Collides With US Air Force Tanker Over Caribbean
JetBlue Flight Nearly Collides With US Air Force Tanker Over Caribbean
JetBlue Flight Nearly Collides With US Air Force Tanker Over Caribbean
JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao narrowly avoids a collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker whose transponder was off, raising Caribbean airspace safety concerns.
A JetBlue flight from Curaçao to New York's JFK halted its climb after a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker crossed into its flight path at cruising altitude. The tanker was reportedly operating with its location transponder turned off, making it invisible to air traffic control and raising alarms about navigation safety in Caribbean airspace. The pilots can be heard reporting that the tanker passed directly in front of them and that they had to stop their ascent to avoid a collision.
JetBlue confirmed it had reported the incident to federal authorities and would participate in any investigation. A company spokesperson emphasized that the crew members are trained to handle a range of flight situations and acted promptly to report the event to leadership.
Officials have noted a broader context of heightened military activity in the region, with the FAA previously warning U.S. aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace. The Pentagon directed inquiries to the Air Force for comment, but no immediate statement was provided. The episode underscores ongoing aviation-safety concerns in a geopolitically tense Caribbean corridor, where civilian flights share airspace with military operations.
Cover image source: U.S. Military Plane and JetBlue Flight Nearly Collided Over Caribbean, Radio Traffic Shows 🔗
