A potential disaster was narrowly avoided when a JetBlue flight altered its ascent to prevent a mid-air collision with a United States Air Force (USAF) refueling tanker near Venezuelan airspace. The incident occurred amid rising tensions as the Trump administration increased U.S. military presence in the region, citing an “anti-drug campaign.”
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The JetBlue pilot, operating flight 1112 from Curaçao, told Air Traffic Control that the tanker appeared directly in their flight path with its transponder switched off. “It’s outrageous. We almost had a mid-air collision up here,” the pilot said, noting that the refueling aircraft was at the same altitude as their commercial flight.
New: A @usairforce tanker and a @JetBlue aircraft narrowly avoided a collision over the Caribbean Sea on Friday night. 🧵👇 pic.twitter.com/c7WKu5l3oO
— Riley Mellen (@riley_mellen) December 15, 2025
JetBlue flight near Venezuela avoids ‘midair collision’ with US tanker https://t.co/qzLStCqQhr pic.twitter.com/lXye7uxbjt
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) December 14, 2025
According to the pilot, the tanker crossed their path within just two to five miles, forcing the JetBlue crew to halt their climb. The refueling tanker subsequently entered Venezuelan airspace, raising concerns about operational safety in a busy flight corridor.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has previously issued warnings urging airlines to exercise caution when flying near Venezuelan airspace due to heightened military activity. JetBlue confirmed that the incident was reported to federal authorities and said the airline would fully cooperate with any investigation. “Our crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations,” the airline added.
The Pentagon referred inquiries about the incident to the Air Force, which has not immediately commented. The episode underscores the risks commercial flights face near areas with increased military activity, highlighting the importance of coordination between civilian and military aviation.
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Aviation experts note that such near-miss incidents, while rare, can pose significant safety hazards if proper communication and transponder protocols are not followed.