JetBlue flight near Venezuela avoids 'midair collision' with US Air Force tanker

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 2:44 PM EST, December 14, 2025


WASHINGTON (AP) — A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path. “We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. ... They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”

The incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112 from Curaçao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela, en route to New York City’s JFK airport. It comes as the U.S. military has stepped up its drug interdiction activities in the Caribbean and is also seeking to increase pressure on Venezuela’s government.

“We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within 5 miles of us — maybe 2 or 3 miles — but it was an air-to air-refueler from the United States Air Force and he was at our altitude,” the pilot said. “We had to stop our climb.” The pilot said the Air Force plane then headed into Venezuelan air space.

Derek Dombrowski, a spokesman for JetBlue, said Sunday: “We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation.” He added, “Our crewmembers are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team.”

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/venezuela-jetblue-military-tanker-collision-baa2ab38062c5143ba6ce8164219ece2

[wcmagumba]

1. The Trump military in action...uggh!

[Lonestarblue]

2. Our military violating laws wherever they go. What an incompetent leadership.

[Happy Hoosier]

14. What law?

U.S. Military aircraft frequently fly without transponders on when near potential hostile airspace.

There was a mistake here, however. There should have been an AWACS in the area deconflicting. But given that they seem to promote people based on loyatly instead of experience and competence, who knows?

[UpInArms]

3. the utter disregard

for anything resembling respect for anyone or anything or any laws

[Bluestocking]

4. Nope, not getting on airplane until 2029

[surfered]

5. Maybe airliners should monitor Hegseth's Signal messages to know where our planes are.

[DFW]

6. Federal agents with no ID or visible faces, US government planes with no transponders

Maybe Trump is looking for a replay of the scene at National Airport at the beginning of the year?

[twodogsbarking]

7. Has he blamed Biden yet?

[AverageOldGuy]

8. So the refueler was headed for Venezuelan sirspave

Maybe Venezuelan Ir For e should shoot it down

[Irish_Dem]

9. Why does an USAF refueling tanker need to go to Venezuela?

[HipChick]

10. A USAF C-5 Galaxy was spotted at St. Lucia airport last week..

It's a huge plane, and stood out at the local airport. The govt was silent on what it was doing there, apart from the fact it's about 200 miles from Venezuela

[Scalded Nun]

11. 2 things

1. Non-US nations in the Caribbean need to revoke/refuse landing rights for all US military aircraft.
2. The pilot of that military plane with the disabled transponder needs to be have his/her flight status revoked and be grounded until they can be dismissed from the AF. That officer knows/knew better and also knew of the risk involved in not have the transponder active.

[HipChick]

12. This..

[yardwork]

13. Maybe the pilot was told to turn off the transponder.

This is such a nightmare.

[Scalded Nun]

15. Which would have constituted an unlawful order