JetBlue Pilot Reports Near Collision With a Military Aircraft Near Venezuela [WATCH]

A JetBlue flight bound for New York was forced to halt its climb Friday after narrowly avoiding a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker operating near Venezuela, according to air traffic control recordings and statements from the airline, as the New York Post reported.

JetBlue Flight 1112 was traveling from Curaçao to John F. Kennedy International Airport when the incident occurred. During the climb phase, the JetBlue pilot alerted air traffic controllers that an unidentified aircraft crossed directly into the flight’s path at close range.

JetBlue flight near Venezuela avoids ‘midair collision’ with US Air Force tanker.

“They passed directly in our flight path… They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”https://t.co/Ed6onbMCUX

— Anselm Gibbs (@AnselmGibbs) December 14, 2025

“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot told air traffic control, according to audio of the exchange released Sunday.

“They passed directly in our flight path. … They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”

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The pilot further explained the severity of the encounter.

“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. We had to stop our climb,” the pilot said.

Air traffic control acknowledged the situation and responded to the flight crew.

“It has been outrageous with the unidentified aircraft within our air,” the controller said in response.

The encounter occurred amid heightened U.S. military activity in the region. The United States has carried out nearly two dozen strikes targeting suspected drug-trafficking vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

Those operations, according to reports, have resulted in more than 80 deaths and are part of a broader pressure campaign against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Curaçao, where the JetBlue flight departed, is a Caribbean island under the control of the Netherlands and is located approximately 40 miles off Venezuela’s northern coast.

The proximity has placed the area near zones of increased military operations and surveillance.

JetBlue confirmed the incident and said it has reported the matter to federal authorities.

“We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation,” said Derek Dombrowski, a JetBlue spokesperson.

“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.”

⚡️ JetBlue flight near Venezuela narrowly avoids ‘MIDAIR COLLISION’ with US Air Force tanker

PILOT: We just had traffic pass… within 5 MILES of us… refueler from US Air Force… they passed DIRECTLY in our flight path

PILOT: It’s OUTRAGEOUS… almost had a MIDAIR COLLISION pic.twitter.com/dgM239T5zt

— RT (@RT_com) December 14, 2025

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning last month advising U.S. aircraft to “exercise caution” when operating in Venezuelan airspace, citing “the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela.”

The Pentagon declined immediate comment on the incident and referred inquiries to the U.S. Air Force. The Air Force did not respond to requests for comment as of publication.

No injuries were reported among passengers or crew on Flight 1112, and the aircraft continued safely to its destination after the incident. Federal authorities are expected to review the encounter as part of ongoing aviation safety oversight in the region.

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