A JetBlue flight en route to New York took urgent evasive maneuvers on Friday to prevent a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force tanker aircraft near Venezuela. This alarming incident was recorded by air traffic control and revealed that JetBlue Flight 1112, which had just departed from Curacao, encountered the Air Force jet approximately 40 miles off the Venezuelan coast. Notably, the military aircraft did not have its transponder activated, contributing to the potential danger.
According to the JetBlue pilot, the Air Force jet was very close and flying at the same altitude before it departed into Venezuelan airspace. The pilot remarked, “We almost had a mid-air collision up here,” highlighting the seriousness of the situation.
The event has drawn attention from U.S. lawmakers, particularly following a tragic accident on January 29, when a U.S. Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight near Reagan Washington National Airport, resulting in 67 fatalities. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz expressed outrage at the recurring theme of near misses, questioning the lack of advanced tracking technology being utilized. He pointed out that both incidents involved military aircraft operating without an automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system, which is essential for maintaining airspace safety.
Senator Maria Cantwell, the leading Democrat on the committee, echoed concerns about the JetBlue incident, emphasizing the need for a better safety system. She asserted, “You don’t have corridors where military aircraft and commercial planes are flying and then not letting each other know that they are in that space. We just can’t have that.”
At a press conference, the senators addressed the necessity of eliminating a provision in an essential annual defense bill that they argue would compromise air safety by allowing military aircraft to fly in Washington, D.C., airspace without transmitting their ADS-B information. A spokesperson from JetBlue reaffirmed that the airline’s top priority is safety, further emphasizing the need for systemic improvements in air traffic management to prevent such incidents in the future.
This incident serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing challenges in aviation safety, particularly regarding the integration of military and commercial air traffic. The dialogue initiated by these lawmakers highlights the industry’s commitment to enhancing safety protocols, ensuring that such close encounters do not occur again.
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