Second Near Miss as Jet and US Military Aircraft Almost Collide

A private business jet narrowly avoided a midair collision with a United States Air Force refueling aircraft near Venezuela on Saturday, December 14, marking the second serious near-miss involving U.S. military aircraft in the region within two days.

The incident involved a Dassault Falcon 900EX operating a flight from Aruba to Miami. According to air traffic communications, the jet’s pilots reported the close call to controllers in Curaçao shortly after it occurred. The encounter took place at approximately 26,000 feet, with the crew describing the situation as particularly alarming, stating they were “climbing right into” the military aircraft.

The event followed a similar incident a day earlier, on Friday, December 13, when a JetBlue Airways flight from Curaçao to New York was forced to stop its climb to avoid a U.S. Air Force tanker. In that case, the JetBlue pilot reported that the military aircraft crossed directly in front of the passenger jet’s flight path. The pilot also noted that the tanker did not appear to have its transponder activated, limiting its visibility to civilian air traffic control systems and nearby aircraft. The situation was described by the crew as “outrageous” due to the risk involved.

These close calls come amid heightened military activity in airspace near Venezuela. The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration issued a warning to U.S. airlines last month advising crews to exercise increased caution when operating in the region. That advisory was reiterated on Tuesday, December 17, citing elevated risks to civilian aircraft at all altitudes due to military operations.

In response to the warnings, several commercial airlines have reduced or suspended services to and from Venezuela, citing safety concerns. While the near-miss incidents occurred outside Venezuelan sovereign airspace, the FAA advisory underscores the broader regional risks associated with increased military flight activity.

Investigations into both incidents are now underway. The U.S. Southern Command has confirmed it is reviewing the events, emphasizing that flight safety remains its top priority. Authorities are collecting flight data and communications records to better understand the circumstances and determine what steps can be taken to prevent similar encounters in the future.

The incidents have renewed concerns among airlines and pilots about coordination between military and civilian aviation, particularly in busy international corridors where transponder use and clear communication are critical to maintaining safe separation between aircraft.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, 1061kissfm.iheart.com