JetBlue A320 Reports Near Miss With Military Aircraft Near Curaçao

A JetBlue Airbus A320-200 (registration N809JB) operating flight B6-1112 from Curaçao to New York–JFK experienced a near-miss incident on December 12, 2025, after the crew reported coming dangerously close to an unidentified U.S. military aircraft that was not transmitting a transponder signal.

According to flight crew communications, the A320 had been cleared to climb from FL333 to FL350 shortly after departing Curaçao when the pilots visually identified a military tanker aircraft crossing their flight path ahead at nearly the same altitude. The tanker’s transponder was not active, rendering it invisible to both the A320’s TCAS and local radar systems.

FlightAware: https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/JBU1112/history/20251212/2045Z/TNCC/KJFK

The JetBlue crew immediately stopped their climb and advised Curaçao ATC that a “U.S. military tanker without a transponder” had passed approximately 2–3 nautical miles ahead of them at roughly FL340. The crew described the situation as “outrageous” and classified the encounter as a near midair collision. They provided ATC with the approximate position of the unidentified aircraft.

Curaçao Air Traffic Control later confirmed the tanker was not visible on their radar systems at the time of the encounter. Controllers subsequently advised that the unidentified aircraft appeared to be operating at FL340, likely transitioning toward Venezuelan airspace.

Despite the near miss, the JetBlue A320 was able to resume its climb normally and continued to New York, landing safely about four hours later.

The crew formally reported the incident to both local authorities and the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA has opened an investigation into the event, including the military aircraft’s identity, operational purpose, and why its transponder was not transmitting in controlled airspace.

A NOTAM, Notice to Air Missions, is in place near and over the Curaçao airspace until the end of the month, advising pilots to exercise “extreme caution” after pilot reports and primary radar indicated the presence of “non-identified aircraft operations.”

Incidents involving non-transponding military aircraft in civilian corridors are rare but taken seriously due to the significant collision risk they pose, especially in busy Caribbean and transoceanic airspace.


Related News: https://airguide.info/?s=jetblue, https://airguide.info/category/air-travel-business/travel-health-security/

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, avherald.com