2nd near midair collision reported near Venezuela involving US Air Force tanker
A second near midair collision involving a United States Air Force refueling tanker has been reported near Venezuela, raising renewed concerns about air safety in the region amid heightened military activity.
Radio transmissions reviewed by CNN indicate that pilots of a private Falcon 900EX business jet narrowly avoided a collision on Saturday while flying from Aruba to Miami. The incident occurred near Venezuelan airspace, just one day after a similar close call was reported in the same area.
According to audio captured by LiveATC.net, the pilots alerted air traffic controllers in Curaçao shortly after the encounter. Speaking at around 26,000 feet, one pilot said the aircraft had come dangerously close to another plane.
“They were really close,” the pilot told controllers. “We were climbing right into him. It was big, maybe a 777 or a 767.”
CNN has contacted the US Air Force and United States Southern Command for comment.
Second incident in two days
The near miss marks the second reported incident involving a US military aircraft in the region within 48 hours.
On Friday, pilots of JetBlue flight 1112, traveling from Curaçao to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport, reported that they were forced to abruptly stop their climb after a US Air Force aerial refueling tanker crossed directly in front of their flight path. The pilots said the tanker’s position reporting transponder was turned off at the time.
The Pentagon and Dutch aviation authorities have confirmed they are reviewing the earlier JetBlue incident. In a statement to CNN, United States Southern Command said it was “aware of the recent reporting regarding US military aircraft operations in the Caribbean” and that it is currently reviewing the matter.
The National Transportation Safety Board also said it is aware of both incidents and is gathering further information.
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Heightened warnings for airlines
Curaçao is located roughly 40 miles north of the Venezuelan coast, an area where aviation authorities have warned of increased risks.
Last month, the Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory cautioning US airlines about heightened military activity at all altitudes near Venezuela. The warning was reiterated on Tuesday.
“Threats could pose a potential risk to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight, the arrival and departure phases of flight, and or airports and aircraft on the ground,” the FAA said.
Following the initial advisory, several international airlines suspended flights to and from Venezuela. Copa Airlines said on Tuesday that it would extend its suspension of flights to and from Caracas until January 15, citing operational conditions at Maiquetía International Airport.
Curaçao is part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The Dutch Safety Board said it is aware of the incident that occurred within Curaçao’s airspace and is monitoring developments.
The back to back near collisions are likely to intensify scrutiny of military flight operations in the region, as aviation authorities continue to assess the risks posed to civilian air traffic.
