'It's outrageous' - JetBlue pilot decries near collision with US military aircraft

December 15, 2025

A JetBlue passenger flight traveling from Curaçao to New York's JFK airport experienced a near-miss with a US Air Force refueling tanker near Venezuela, prompting an official review by US Southern Command. The commercial aircraft was forced to halt its climb to prevent a collision with the military plane, which was flying without its transponder activated, making it invisible to air traffic control systems. The JetBlue pilot reported that the Air Force tanker passed within two to three miles at the same altitude before entering Venezuelan airspace.

Who is affected

JetBlue flight crew and passengers on the Curaçao to JFK flight
US Air Force refueling tanker crew
US Southern Command
Federal Aviation Administration
Air traffic controllers in the region

What action is being taken

US Southern Command is reviewing the incident
The Air Force is assessing the facts surrounding the situation
JetBlue is participating in the investigation
The Air Force is working through appropriate channels to evaluate what occurred

Why it matters

This incident highlights serious safety concerns in an already tense airspace environment near Venezuela, where the FAA has recently warned aircraft to exercise caution due to worsening security situations and heightened military activity. The Air Force plane's deactivated transponder made it invisible to standard air traffic control systems, creating a dangerous situation where collision avoidance systems could not function properly, potentially endangering hundreds of civilian passengers and raising questions about military aircraft operating procedures in civilian airspace.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: BBC