Terrifying Close Calls as Air Force Tanker Almost Collides with Private Jet

A private jet narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker near Venezuela—just one day after a similar scare forced a JetBlue flight to take sudden evasive action in the same region.

Radio transmissions captured panicked pilots on Saturday as they worked to avoid hitting the military aircraft. Not long after, pilots flying a Falcon 900EX business jet from Aruba to Miami reported a near collision to air traffic controllers in Curaçao, according to CNN.

In recordings obtained by the outlet, one pilot told controllers the two aircraft were “really close” while flying at roughly 26,000 feet. “We were climbing right into him,” the pilot said, adding that the aircraft appeared massive. “It was big, maybe a 777 or a 767.”

The alarming incident came just one day after JetBlue Flight 1112, traveling from Curaçao—about 40 miles off the coast of Venezuela—to New York’s JFK Airport, experienced a similar close call. The JetBlue pilots told air traffic control they were forced to abruptly stop their climb after a U.S. Air Force tanker crossed directly into their flight path.

“We almost had a midair collision up here,” a JetBlue pilot said in radio transmissions. “They passed directly in our flight path. They don’t have their transponder turned on. It’s outrageous.”

According to CNN, the Air Force tanker involved in both incidents had its position-reporting transponder turned off, making it harder for other aircraft to detect and avoid it.

The back-to-back incidents marked at least two near collisions involving U.S. military refueling tankers in the airspace near Venezuela over the same weekend.

U.S. Southern Command confirmed it is aware of the reports and said it is currently reviewing the matter. The Pentagon and Dutch aviation officials also told CNN they are investigating what happened.

Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration warned U.S. airlines about increased military activity around Venezuela, repeating the advisory earlier this week. The FAA cautioned that threats in the region could pose risks to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflights, takeoffs, landings, and even while on the ground.

Following the warning, multiple international airlines reportedly canceled flights departing from Venezuela.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it is not investigating either incident. Meanwhile, requests for comment were sent to the U.S. Air Force, the FAA, and JetBlue.

With multiple close calls reported in just days, the incidents have raised serious questions about flight safety in the Caribbean airspace—and whether more narrowly avoided disasters are waiting to happen.