CARACAS, Venezuela, Dec. 15 (Agencies) — A US Air Force refueling tanker reportedly flew dangerously close to a JetBlue passenger jet near the Venezuelan coast on Friday, nearly causing a midair collision, according to radio communications and flight tracking data cited by the Associated Press and the New York Times.
JetBlue Flight 1112, traveling from Curaçao to New York’s JFK International Airport, encountered the tanker about 20 minutes after takeoff. The airliner abruptly lost altitude mid-climb as the military plane crossed its path. The JetBlue pilot was heard saying, “We almost had a midair collision up here. They passed directly in our flight path … They don’t have their transponder turned on; it’s outrageous.”
JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski confirmed the incident had been reported to authorities and praised the crew’s handling of the situation. “Our crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team,” he said.
US Southern Command spokesman Colonel Manny Ortiz said the military was reviewing the matter. He emphasized that safety remained a “top priority” and that officials were “working through the appropriate channels to assess the facts surrounding the situation.”
The near collision comes amid heightened US military activity in the Caribbean, following President Donald Trump’s threats to strike what he called “narcoterrorists” in Venezuela. Since September, US forces have carried out strikes on alleged cartel boats, killing more than 80 people. Venezuela has denied involvement in drug trafficking, accusing Washington of pursuing a “colonialist” agenda aimed at toppling President Nicolás Maduro and exploiting the country’s resources.