JetBlue flight takes evasive action to avoid Air Force jet near Venezuela

A JetBlue plane narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force plane near Venezuela on Friday, an incident the pilot called “outrageous.”

JetBlue Flight 1112, an Airbus A320 en route to New York from the Caribbean nation of Curacao, had been in the air for about 20 minutes when it encountered a U.S. Air Force tanker north of Curacao.

The tanker reportedly flew directly into JetBlue’s flight path, prompting the passenger plane to take “avoiding actions to maintain separation from a tanker aircraft,” Aviation Safety Network said.

According to a recording captured by LiveATC.netThe JetBlue pilot called the incident “outrageous,” noting that the military plane did not have an operational transponder, an electronic device that allows air traffic control to track a plane precisely. Without this, an aircraft cannot be detected by radar.

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A JetBlue plane approaches Newark Liberty Airport at sunset on August 2, 2020. (Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

“They passed directly into our flight path,” the pilot explained. “They don’t have their transponder on. It’s scandalous.”

The pilot identified the plane as a military plane and said it crossed paths about three to three miles away.

““It was a U.S. Air Force air-to-air tanker, and it was at our altitude,” the pilot explained. “We had to stop our climb and descend to avoid hitting them.”

The air traffic controller confirmed in the recording that he also saw nothing on his radar.

“Yes, I have nothing on my telescope…you are absolutely right sir,” the controller said.

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A US Air Force Kc-135, an air-to-air refueling tanker, takes off on a mission March 26, 1999. (USAF)

The pilot reported that the Air Force plane then entered Venezuelan airspace.

The incident comes as the United States has mounted a large-scale military buildup in the southern Caribbean, while President Donald Trump campaigns to oust Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.

The U.S. Southern Command told Fox News Digital on Monday that it was aware of the incident and was looking into the matter.

“We are aware of recent news reports regarding U.S. military air operations in the Caribbean and are currently reviewing the matter,” said Col. Emanuel L. Ortiz, chief of public affairs for U.S. Southern Command. “Military aircrews are highly trained professionals who operate in accordance with established procedures and applicable airspace requirements. Safety remains a top priority and we are working through the appropriate channels to assess the facts surrounding the situation.”

Tensions between Venezuela and the United States continue to escalate as Trump threatens to seize Venezuelan oil tankers. (Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool via Reuters; Brian Snyder/Reuters)

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JetBlue told Fox News Digital on Monday that the company’s top priority is safety.

“Our crew members are trained in proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for quickly reporting this situation to our management team,” JetBlue said. “We have reported this incident to federal authorities and will assist in any investigation.”

Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration alerted airlines of a “potentially dangerous situation” when flying near Venezuela, citing increased military activity and deteriorating security as tensions rose amid Trump’s threats of strikes against the country.