A JetBlue flight narrowly avoided a potential mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker near Curaçao on Friday. The pilot of the commercial flight, destined for New York City, reported that the military plane crossed directly into their path, forcing them to halt their ascent.
According to the pilot’s communication with air traffic control, the Air Force tanker did not have its transponder activated. The pilot also noted that the Air Force plane subsequently entered Venezuelan airspace. The incident occurred as the U.S. military increases its efforts to counter illegal drug activities in the Caribbean and seeks to apply pressure on the Venezuelan government.
JetBlue has reported the incident to federal authorities and will cooperate with any investigation. The Federal Aviation Administration had previously issued a warning urging U.S. aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace.
