JetBlue pilot narrowly avoids 'midair collision' with Air Force plane near Venezuela
A JetBlue Airways pilot said he narrowly avoided a "midair collision" with a U.S. military aircraft that entered his flight path while the JetBlue plane was climbing after takeoff from Curaçao on Friday, according to the airline and ATC recordings.
Curaçao is a Dutch Caribbean island near Venezuela.
The JetBlue pilot is heard telling the air traffic controller they had to stop their climb after a U.S. Air Force air refueler entered its flight path at the same altitude “directly in front” and "within five miles" of the JetBlue plane.
The pilot said the military aircraft was headed towards the Venezuelan airspace and the air traffic controller noted not seeing the military aircraft on their end, as it had the transponder off and was not transmitting its location.
“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the pilot said, according to ATC recordings. "They passed directly in our flight path ... They don’t have their transponder turned on; it’s outrageous."
In a statement to ABC News, JetBlue said the crew is trained to follow proper procedures for various flight situations. The airline said it has reported the incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation.
The JetBlue flight 1112 was en route to New York City’s JFK Airport at the time of the incident.
“We are aware of the recent reporting regarding U.S. military aircraft operations in the Caribbean and are currently reviewing the matter," U.S. Southern Command said in a statement to ABC News.
"Military aircrews are highly trained professionals who operate in accordance with established procedures and applicable airspace requirements. Safety remains a top priority, and we are working through the appropriate channels to assess the facts surrounding the situation,” the agency added.
The FAA does not control air traffic around Curaçao and deferred ABC News to the Curaçao Civil Aviation Authority, which has not returned a request for comment.
A NOTAM, Notice to Air Missions, is in place near and over the Curaçao airspace until the end of the month, advising pilots to exercise "extreme caution" after pilot reports and primary radar indicated the presence of "non-identified aircraft operations."
