JetBlue flight close to Venezuela avoids “midair collision” with U.S. Air Power tanker

A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to keep away from colliding with a U.S. Air Power refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the army airplane for crossing his path,  based on a recording of the pilot’s dialog with air site visitors management.

“We virtually had a midair collision up right here,” the JetBlue pilot stated on the recording. “They handed instantly in our flight path. … They do not have their transponder turned on, it is outrageous.”

The incident concerned JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is simply off the coast of Venezuela, en path to New York Metropolis’s JFK airport. It comes because the U.S. army has stepped up its drug interdiction actions within the Caribbean and can be in search of to enhance stress on Venezuela’s authorities.

“We simply had site visitors go instantly in entrance of us inside 5 miles of us — possibly 2 or 3 miles — nevertheless it was an air-to air-refueler from the USA Air Power and he was at our altitude,” the pilot stated. “We needed to cease our climb.” The pilot stated the Air Power airplane then headed into Venezuelan air house.

Derek Dombrowski, a spokesman for JetBlue, stated Sunday: “We’ve reported this incident to federal authorities and can take part in any investigation.” He added, “Our crewmembers are skilled on correct procedures for numerous flight conditions, and we recognize our crew for promptly reporting this example to our management workforce.”

The Pentagon referred The Related Press to the Air Power for remark. The Air Power did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

The Federal Aviation Administration final month issued a warning to U.S. plane urging them to “train warning” when in Venezuelan airspace, “as a result of worsening safety scenario and heightened army exercise in or round Venezuela.”

In accordance with the air site visitors recording, the controller responded to the pilot, “It has been outrageous with the unidentified plane inside our air.”