JetBlue flight narrowly avoids USAF tanker near Venezuela
A JetBlue flight near Venezuelan airspace narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force tanker after the pilot, on ATC recordings, estimated the tanker passed within 2–5 miles at the same altitude and briefly halted the climb. ATC called the situation “outrageous,” the FAA had warned U.S. aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace amid heightened military activity, and JetBlue said it reported the incident to federal authorities and will cooperate with any investigation.
📌 Key Facts
- A JetBlue flight near Venezuela narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force tanker.
- The pilot's ATC-recorded estimate said the tanker passed within 2–5 miles at the same altitude, forcing the JetBlue aircraft to stop its climb.
- An ATC controller was heard saying "it has been outrageous with the unidentified aircraft within our air," describing the situation.
- The FAA had previously issued an advisory urging U.S. aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace because of heightened military activity.
- JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski said the incident was reported to federal authorities and the airline will cooperate with any investigation.
📊 Relevant Data
The US military has conducted at least 23 lethal strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean since mid-September 2025, resulting in 83 deaths that the UN has called extrajudicial killings.
Deadly airstrikes and a military buildup: how the US pressure campaign against Venezuela has unfolded in the Caribbean — The Guardian
In fiscal year 2025, the US Coast Guard seized nearly 510,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and Caribbean Sea through multiple interdictions.
Major Drug Busts: US Coast Guard Seizes Record Amount of Cocaine — Military.com
As of July-September 2025, approximately 23,122 Colombian and Venezuelan refugees and migrants, including asylum-seekers, live in Aruba and Curaçao, with significant numbers fleeing political and economic instability in Venezuela.
Aruba and Curacao Factsheet, July - September 2025 — ReliefWeb
Venezuela plays a minor role in cocaine shipments heading north from South America, according to UNODC World Drug Report 2025 data on documented trafficking routes.
Chart: Few Cocaine Shipments Head North From Venezuela — Statista
📰 Sources (2)
- Pilot’s ATC-recorded estimate that the tanker passed within 2–5 miles at the same altitude, forcing a stop in climb
- ATC controller heard saying it has been “outrageous with the unidentified aircraft within our air”
- FAA’s prior advisory urging U.S. aircraft to exercise caution in Venezuelan airspace due to heightened military activity is cited
- JetBlue spokesman Derek Dombrowski confirms the incident was reported to federal authorities and that the airline will cooperate with any investigation