Daijiworld Media Network - New York

New York, Dec 15: A JetBlue Airways pilot narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. military aircraft shortly after departing from Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island near Venezuela, according to airline officials and air traffic control (ATC) recordings.

The pilot informed air traffic controllers that he had to halt his climb after a U.S. Air Force refueling plane appeared at the same altitude, directly in front of the JetBlue aircraft and within five miles, ABC News reported.

The incident occurred on JetBlue Flight 1112, en route to New York City’s JFK Airport. In the ATC recordings, the pilot expressed alarm over the encounter, noting that the military aircraft had its transponder turned off, making it invisible to air traffic monitoring. “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,” he said.

JetBlue told reporters that its crew followed standard safety procedures and that the airline has reported the incident to federal authorities, cooperating fully with any investigation.

The U.S. Southern Command confirmed it is reviewing the situation, emphasizing that “military aircrews are highly trained professionals who operate in accordance with established procedures and applicable airspace requirements. Safety remains a top priority.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) does not oversee Curaçao’s airspace and referred to the Curaçao Civil Aviation Authority, which has yet to comment.

A Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) remains in effect for the Curaçao region through the end of the month, warning pilots to exercise “extreme caution” due to reports and radar detections of unidentified aircraft operations.