U.S. Military Plane and JetBlue Flight Nearly Collided Over Caribbean, Radio Traffic Shows

On Friday, a JetBlue flight nearly collided with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker over the Caribbean. The JetBlue pilot reported the incident, stating the military aircraft's transponder was off, preventing air traffic control from detecting it. The JetBlue flight, en route from Curaçao to New York, had to abruptly halt its ascent to avoid the tanker. Air traffic control confirmed they also couldn't see the military plane on radar, noting a recent increase in unidentified aircraft in the airspace. The following day, controllers alerted other pilots from American Airlines and Delta about similar unidentified aircraft in the area, raising concerns about potential safety risks. The incidents occurred in late November and mid-December 2025.

On Friday, December 14, 2025, a JetBlue flight 1112 from Curacao to New York's JFK airport narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a US Air Force refuelling tanker. The JetBlue pilot reported the incident to air traffic control, stating the tanker crossed their path without a transponder and forced them to halt their ascent. The pilot also claimed the US military plane then entered Venezuelan airspace. JetBlue has reported the incident to federal authorities. The near miss occurred amid increased US military activity in the Caribbean, including drug interdiction efforts and pressure on the Venezuelan government. The FAA had previously issued a warning to US aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace due to security concerns and heightened military activity.

A JetBlue flight 1112 from Curaçao to New York City narrowly avoided a potential midair collision with a US Air Force refueling tanker on Friday. The JetBlue pilot reported the incident to air traffic control, stating the military plane crossed their flight path without a transponder activated, forcing them to halt their ascent. The pilot also claimed the US Air Force plane then entered Venezuelan airspace. JetBlue has reported the incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation. The FAA had previously issued a warning to US aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace due to heightened military activity. The Air Force has not yet commented on the incident.