A JetBlue passenger jet narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force tanker near Venezuela on Friday, raising safety concerns over military and commercial airspace coordination.
JetBlue Flight 1112, an Airbus A320 bound for New York from Curacao, reported the near miss about 40 miles off the Venezuelan coast after the Air Force jet flew at a similar altitude without its transponder activated, according to an air traffic control recording captured by liveatc.net.
The JetBlue pilot described the situation as “outrageous,” noting that the Air Force plane passed directly in the flight path and subsequently entered Venezuelan airspace. The incident has reignited debate over air safety, particularly the use of automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) technology, which provides real-time tracking for aircraft.
In January, an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight near Washington, D.C., killing 67 people; the helicopter was also not using ADS-B.
Senator Ted Cruz and Senator Maria Cantwell raised concerns about military aircraft operating in civilian airspace without proper tracking, calling for stricter safety measures. “This is not acceptable,” Cantwell said, emphasizing that commercial and military flights must be aware of each other’s positions.
JetBlue confirmed the incident and stressed that crew safety procedures were followed. The airline reported the situation to federal authorities and will cooperate with investigations.
The US Southern Command acknowledged the incident, stating that aircrews follow established procedures and airspace regulations, and the matter is under review.
The episode comes amid increased US military activity in the southern Caribbean as tensions with Venezuela rise, with the FAA recently warning airlines of potential hazards in the region. Several major international carriers have suspended flights over Venezuelan airspace amid heightened security risks.
