US Air Force Near-Collision in Venezuelan Airspace Sparks Review

A second near midair collision involving a United States Air Force refueling tanker was reported near Venezuelan airspace within 48 hours, prompting reviews by US, Dutch, and international aviation authorities and renewing concerns over flight safety in the southern Caribbean, according to radio transmissions and official statements reviewed by CNN.

The latest incident occurred Saturday afternoon when a Falcon 900EX private jet flying from Aruba to Miami narrowly avoided a collision with a US Air Force aerial refueling tanker at approximately 26,000 feet. The pilots reported the event to air traffic controllers in Curaçao, a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands located about 40 miles north of Venezuela’s coast.

“They were really close. We were climbing right into him. It was big, maybe a 777 or a (767),” one of the pilots told controllers shortly after the encounter, according to audio captured by LiveATC.net and reviewed by CNN.

The Saturday incident followed a similar event reported a day earlier involving JetBlue flight 1112, which was traveling from Curaçao to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. In that case, the pilots said they were forced to abruptly halt their climb to avoid a collision after a US Air Force refueling tanker crossed directly in front of their flight path.

According to the JetBlue pilots’ radio transmission, the military aircraft crossed their route with its position-reporting transponder turned off. A JetBlue pilot described the situation as a “collision avoidance” maneuver, stating that the tanker appeared unexpectedly during the ascent phase of the flight.

The two incidents occurred amid heightened US military activity in the Caribbean. Since last summer, the Pentagon has maintained an expanded military presence in the region as part of counter-narcotics operations. US officials have said these operations are aimed at intercepting vessels allegedly transporting drugs and linked to networks that Washington claims involve Venezuelan government and military actors.

Following the JetBlue incident, the Pentagon and Dutch aviation authorities confirmed they were reviewing the matter. In a statement sent to CNN, United States Southern Command said it was “aware of the recent reporting regarding US military aircraft operations in the Caribbean and is currently reviewing the matter.”

CNN reported that it has also reached out to the US Air Force for comment on both near-collision events.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was aware of the two incidents and was gathering information. The Dutch Safety Board also confirmed it was aware of the incident that occurred within Curaçao’s airspace.

In November, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory warning US aircraft operators to exercise “extreme caution” when operating in or near Venezuelan airspace due to a deteriorating security situation and increased military activity. The FAA reiterated that warning this week, emphasizing that risks could affect aircraft at all altitudes.