A JetBlue flight heading to New York had to make a sudden move on Friday to avoid hitting a U.S. Air Force tanker jet in midair near Curaçao. The passenger plane, full of people, had to dodge a military aircraft that couldn’t be seen on radar.
According to Fox News, the incident involved JetBlue Flight 1112, an Airbus A320, which was only about 20 minutes into its trip from Curaçao when it happened north of the island. The Air Force tanker flew directly into the JetBlue flight path, forcing the passenger plane to take evasive action to keep a safe distance from the military aircraft.
The biggest problem was that the U.S. Air Force jet was invisible to air traffic control. The JetBlue pilot called the encounter “outrageous” because the military plane didn’t have its transponder turned on. A transponder is an important electronic device that lets air traffic control track a plane and see its height and location. Without it, an aircraft can’t be detected on radar. This meant the air traffic controller had no idea the military jet was there.
The military jet was completely invisible to radar systems
The audio recording of the conversation shows how serious this was. The pilot said they had to stop climbing and descend quickly to avoid hitting the tanker. The military jet, an air-to-air refueler, crossed their path only two to three miles away while flying at the same height. This incident took place only days after the U.S. military seized a Venezuelan oil tanker to escalate tension between the two nations.
The air traffic controller confirmed the scary reality in the recording. “Yes, I don’t have anything on my scope,” the controller said, adding, “you are totally right sir.” The military plane was invisible on radar, which is a major safety failure.
The pilot reported that the Air Force jet then entered Venezuelan airspace. This near-miss happened during high tension in the region. The United States has been increasing its military presence in the southern Caribbean while President Trump continues his campaign against Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro.
The Federal Aviation Administration had warned airlines about this region last month. The FAA told carriers about a “potentially hazardous situation” because of rising military activity and worsening security as tensions grew. JetBlue said safety is their top priority and their crew handled the situation professionally. They reported the incident to federal authorities. The U.S. Southern Command confirmed they are reviewing the facts.
Published: Dec 16, 2025 02:43 pm