Washington: A JetBlue flight departing the Caribbean island of Curacao has halted its climb to avoid a potential midair collision with a US Air Force refuelling tanker, according to air traffic control recordings and airline officials.
In a recorded exchange with air traffic controllers, the JetBlue pilot blamed the military aircraft for crossing directly into the jet’s flight path without an active transponder. The pilot added that the Air Force aircraft was flying at the same altitude and passed within an estimated two to five miles, forcing the commercial jet to stop its climb.
The pilot also said the tanker later headed toward Venezuelan airspace. The incident comes as the US military has intensified drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean and increased pressure on Venezuela, where security conditions have been deteriorating.
JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski confirmed that the airline had reported the incident to federal authorities. Derek Dombrowski stated that, “We will participate in any investigation.”
The Pentagon referred media inquiries to the US Air Force, which did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Last month, the US Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning urging American aircraft to exercise caution when operating in or near Venezuelan airspace due to heightened military activity and security concerns.
According to the air traffic control recording, the controller acknowledged the seriousness of the situation, stating that, “It has been outrageous with the unidentified aircraft within our air.”
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