A JetBlue passenger jet took off from Curaçao, a small Caribbean nation near Venezuela, on the 12th, and during the flight, it is suspected that a US Air Force aerial refueling plane strayed into its flight path, nearly causing a collision between the two aircraft, forcing the passenger jet to stop climbing.
The flight involved, number B6 1112, took off from Curaçao International Airport at 4:21 p.m. local time, heading to John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, USA.
US media released the cockpit audio recording between the passenger jet pilot and air traffic controller.
According to the pilot, a US Air Force aerial refueling plane had just flown less than 8 kilometers straight ahead of the passenger jet, at roughly the same altitude, forcing the passenger jet to stop climbing. The aerial refueling plane then entered Venezuelan airspace.
The pilot stated that the two planes almost collided in mid-air, as the refueling plane flew directly into the passenger jet’s flight path without turning on its transponder. “It’s outrageous.”
A JetBlue spokesperson said on the 15th that the incident has been reported to US federal authorities and that the company will cooperate with any investigation. The airline’s crew members are trained to handle various in-flight scenarios according to the correct operating procedures, and the company thanked the crew for promptly reporting the incident.
In addition, a US Air Force spokesperson stated that the Air Force is aware of the incident. The military crew members are all well-trained professionals who carry out their missions strictly in accordance with established procedures and applicable airspace requirements, with safety always being the top priority. The military is evaluating the incident through appropriate channels.