A potentially catastrophic mid-air collision was narrowly averted on Friday when a JetBlue Airways commercial flight took emergency evasive maneuvers to avoid a US Air Force tanker aircraft near Venezuelan airspace. The incident occurred approximately 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela as JetBlue Flight 1112, an Airbus A320 en route from Curaçao to New York, encountered the military aircraft flying at identical altitude without an activated transponder.
According to air traffic control recordings obtained by liveatc.net, the JetBlue pilot expressed extreme concern regarding the proximity and lack of electronic identification from the Air Force tanker. ‘They passed directly in our flight path… They don’t have their transponder turned on. It’s outrageous,’ the pilot reported during the incident.
The event has drawn immediate attention from US lawmakers, with Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz highlighting disturbing parallels to the January 29 collision between an Army helicopter and American Airlines flight near Reagan Washington National Airport that resulted in 67 fatalities. Senator Maria Cantwell, the committee’s top Democrat, emphasized the unacceptable nature of the incident, stating, ‘You don’t have corridors where military aircraft and commercial planes are flying and then not letting each other know that they are in that space.’
Both senators are currently advocating for the removal of a provision from the annual defense bill that would permit military aircraft to operate in Washington, DC airspace without transmitting ADS-B information, an advanced tracking technology considered critical for collision avoidance.
The incident occurs against the backdrop of heightened US military activity in the Caribbean region as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The Federal Aviation Administration had previously issued warnings to airlines about potentially hazardous conditions when flying over Venezuela, with numerous carriers suspending operations as tensions escalate.
JetBlue confirmed the incident through an official statement, noting that safety remains their top priority and that the matter has been reported to federal authorities for investigation. US Southern Command acknowledged awareness of the incident and stated they are reviewing the matter through appropriate channels.