A JetBlue passenger aircraft bound for New York was forced to take evasive action on Friday to avoid a midair collision with a United States Air Force tanker plane while flying near Venezuela, according to an air traffic control recording.
JetBlue Flight 1112 had departed Curaçao and was traveling approximately 40 miles off the Venezuelan coast when the Airbus A320 crew reported encountering the military aircraft, which did not have its transponder activated. The exchange was captured in recordings from LiveATC.net.
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In the recording, the JetBlue pilot stated that the Air Force aircraft was flying at the same altitude and within just a few miles of the commercial jet. The pilot said the tanker crossed directly through the aircraft’s flight path and criticized the absence of an active transponder, calling the situation dangerous and unacceptable. He further noted that the military aircraft subsequently entered Venezuelan airspace, adding that the incident nearly resulted in a midair collision.
The near miss has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Ted Cruz referenced the incident on Monday while pointing to a separate January tragedy in which an Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines flight near Reagan Washington National Airport, killing 67 people. Cruz noted that the helicopter involved in that crash was not using an advanced tracking system known as automatic dependent surveillance broadcast, or ADS B, and questioned why repeated near misses continue to be tolerated.
Senator Maria Cantwell, the committee’s top Democrat, echoed those concerns, saying the JetBlue incident underscored serious gaps in air safety. She argued that military and commercial aircraft should not be operating in the same airspace without full visibility of each other’s positions and said such lapses were unacceptable.
Both senators made their remarks during a press conference as they renewed efforts to remove a provision from an annual defense bill that they say would weaken aviation safety by allowing military aircraft to operate in Washington DC airspace without transmitting ADS B data.
JetBlue, in a statement issued Monday, said safety remains the airline’s top priority. The company praised its crew for following established procedures and promptly reporting the incident to management. JetBlue confirmed it has reported the matter to federal authorities and will cooperate fully with any investigation.
The incident occurred amid heightened regional tensions, as the United States continues a significant military buildup in the southern Caribbean while President Donald Trump intensifies pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. Relations between the two countries have reached one of their most volatile points in years.
United States Southern Command acknowledged awareness of the incident and said it is reviewing the circumstances. In a statement, the military emphasized that its aircrews are highly trained and operate under established procedures and applicable airspace rules, adding that safety remains a top priority as officials assess the facts.
Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration issued warnings to major airlines about potentially hazardous conditions when flying over Venezuela, urging heightened caution. Several international carriers have since suspended flights in the region as tensions escalated and US officials warned of possible military action against land targets in Venezuela.
The FAA did not immediately comment on the JetBlue incident.
