The U.S. airline JetBlue reported that last Friday an aircraft operating the route from Curaçao to New York nearly collided with a U.S. military plane in an area near the coast of Venezuela. Pilots and air traffic controllers described a situation that came close to being catastrophic in the skies over the Caribbean, when the commercial aircraft was on the verge of colliding with this U.S. military aircraft.
JetBlue Flight 1112, an Airbus A320 departing from Curaçao bound for New York, experienced moments of high tension when its crew detected an unknown aircraft in its flight path during the climb. The captain communicated with air traffic control, describing the encounter as “outrageous,” and reported that the other aircraft crossed directly through its route, forcing them to halt the climb to avoid a collision. The incident was recorded in audio from the communication channel between the cockpit and controllers, in which the crew’s shock and concern can be heard at the proximity of the military aircraft.
According to the JetBlue pilot, the U.S. military aircraft, later identified as an Air Force aerial refueling tanker, did not have its transponder activated, the device that allows other aircraft and ground controllers to identify its position on secondary radar. This lack of a signal hindered early detection and increased the risk that the commercial and military aircraft would come within very close distance in the airspace in which they were operating.
The captain stated that the military aircraft was at the same altitude as his jet and passed just a few kilometers ahead, forcing the evasive maneuver. Later, that Air Force aircraft reportedly continued on its course toward Venezuelan airspace.
JetBlue flight reports near collision with US military aircraft near Venezuela
JetBlue Flight 1112 had taken off normally from the island of Curaçao, a Dutch island territory located off the Venezuelan coast, with hundreds of passengers on board and its sights set on its final destination, John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York.
As the aircraft climbed after departure, instrument readings and communications with air traffic control indicated the presence of another aircraft at the same altitude and along the planned route, something that should not occur given the strict rules governing separation between aircraft in flight.
The pilot recounted that within seconds he had to halt the planned climb in order to maintain the minimum safe distance and avoid a midair collision, describing the proximity of the other aircraft as just two or three miles, when standard practice for safe air traffic management requires much greater separation.
The lack of an active transponder on the military aircraft further complicated the situation. Transponders are essential safety tools that allow air traffic systems and other pilots to “see” an aircraft on their screens through coded signals.
Without that signal, controllers and pilots must rely on primary radar, which is less precise and more difficult to interpret, especially in regions with a high volume of air traffic. For JetBlue crew members, the absence of that information appeared to heighten the risk, as they were unable to adequately anticipate the presence of the tanker aircraft before it was too close.
JetBlue has confirmed that the incident was reported to the appropriate federal authorities in the United States and said the company will cooperate with any relevant investigation to clarify what occurred.
A spokesperson for the airline stressed that the crew was well trained to deal with unforeseen situations and acted in accordance with established procedures to ensure the safety of passengers and the aircraft. For its part, the Pentagon referred inquiries to the United States Air Force, which so far has not issued a detailed public statement on the incident.
The risks of airspace operated by the US
The episode comes amid a context of increasing U.S. military activity in the Caribbean, where U.S. authorities have stepped up efforts against drug trafficking and carried out interdiction operations against vessels suspected of transporting narcotics.
These actions are part of a broader policy of pressure on governments and organizations involved, especially Venezuela’s, under the argument of combating drug trafficking and other transnational threats. In addition, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recently issued a warning to airlines about the need to exercise extra caution when flying in or near Venezuelan airspace due to growing insecurity and the presence of unidentified aircraft or those with limited communication capabilities.
This incident highlights the inherent risks of managing airspace shared by commercial flights, military operations, and, at times, aircraft that do not comply with all signaling and communication standards. The geographic proximity of commercial routes to military operation zones, such as those converging near Venezuela, requires at least minimal coordination among different players to prevent situations that could trigger tragedies.
The recording of the communication between the JetBlue pilot and air traffic control, in which the surprise and urgency in his words can be heard, shows how a matter of seconds can mark the line between a scare and a catastrophe.
While awaiting more official details, this episode continues to raise questions about the management of international air traffic in regions of high geopolitical and operational complexity. Analysts and aviation security specialists note that cooperation between civilian and military authorities, as well as strict adherence to navigation and signaling systems, are indispensable pillars for preventing incidents of this nature in the near future.