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Passenger airliner almost collides with US army aircraft close to Venezuela
(MENAFN) A passenger aircraft narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US military plane near the Venezuelan coast on Friday, according to reports citing flight tracking data and radio communications.
The incident occurred amid a US naval buildup in the Caribbean and President Donald Trump’s warnings of potential strikes against “narcoterrorists” on Venezuelan territory.
JetBlue Flight 1112, traveling from Curaçao to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, reportedly encountered a US Air Force refueling tanker shortly after takeoff. About twenty minutes into the flight, the airliner experienced a sudden drop in altitude during its climb. “We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said. “They passed directly in our flight path … They don’t have their transponder turned on; it’s outrageous.”
JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski confirmed that the airline reported the near-collision to authorities. “Our crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team,” he said.
US Southern Command acknowledged the report, with Colonel Manny Ortiz stating that officials were “aware of the recent reporting regarding US military aircraft operations in the Caribbean and are currently reviewing the matter.” He emphasized that safety is a top priority and that the military is “working through the appropriate channels to assess the facts surrounding the situation.”
Since September, US military operations have targeted alleged cartel vessels in the region, resulting in over 80 fatalities. The strikes were justified by Trump as measures against boats he claimed were being used by Venezuela to “flood” the United States with narcotics. Venezuela has denied involvement in drug trafficking, describing the attacks as part of a “colonialist” scheme aimed at overthrowing President Nicolas Maduro and exploiting the country’s resources.
The incident occurred amid a US naval buildup in the Caribbean and President Donald Trump’s warnings of potential strikes against “narcoterrorists” on Venezuelan territory.
JetBlue Flight 1112, traveling from Curaçao to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, reportedly encountered a US Air Force refueling tanker shortly after takeoff. About twenty minutes into the flight, the airliner experienced a sudden drop in altitude during its climb. “We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said. “They passed directly in our flight path … They don’t have their transponder turned on; it’s outrageous.”
JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski confirmed that the airline reported the near-collision to authorities. “Our crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team,” he said.
US Southern Command acknowledged the report, with Colonel Manny Ortiz stating that officials were “aware of the recent reporting regarding US military aircraft operations in the Caribbean and are currently reviewing the matter.” He emphasized that safety is a top priority and that the military is “working through the appropriate channels to assess the facts surrounding the situation.”
Since September, US military operations have targeted alleged cartel vessels in the region, resulting in over 80 fatalities. The strikes were justified by Trump as measures against boats he claimed were being used by Venezuela to “flood” the United States with narcotics. Venezuela has denied involvement in drug trafficking, describing the attacks as part of a “colonialist” scheme aimed at overthrowing President Nicolas Maduro and exploiting the country’s resources.
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