JetBlue pilot calls incident \u2018outrageous\u2019 and says US military refueling tanker didn\u2019t have transponder turned on<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean<\/a> nation of Cura\u00e7ao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a US air force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe almost had a midair collision up here,\u201d the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. \u201cThey passed directly in our flight path … They don\u2019t have their transponder turned on, it\u2019s outrageous.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The incident involved JetBlue flight 1112 from Cura\u00e7ao, which is just off the coast of Venezuela<\/a>, en route to New York City\u2019s JFK airport. It comes as the US military<\/a> has launched deadly airstrikes<\/a> on suspected drug smugglers in the Caribbean and is also seeking to increase pressure<\/a> on Venezuela\u2019s government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe just had traffic pass directly in front of us within 5 miles of us \u2013 maybe 2 or 3 miles \u2013 but it was an air-to air-refueler from the United States air force and he was at our altitude,\u201d the pilot said. \u201cWe had to stop our climb.\u201d The pilot said the US air force plane then headed into Venezuelan airspace.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Derek Dombrowski, a spokesperson for JetBlue, said on Sunday: \u201cWe have reported this incident to federal authorities and will participate in any investigation.\u201d He added: \u201cOur crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Pentagon referred the Associated Press to the air force for comment. The air force didn\u2019t immediately respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Federal Aviation Administration last month issued a warning<\/a> to US aircraft urging them to \u201cexercise caution\u201d when in Venezuelan airspace, \u201cdue to the worsening security situation and heightened military activity in or around Venezuela\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n According to the air traffic recording, the controller responded to the pilot: \u201cIt has been outrageous with the unidentified aircraft within our air.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n