Photo: Gary Chalker / Moment Unreleased / Getty Images
A private jet narrowly avoided a collision with a United States Air Force refueling tanker near Venezuela on Saturday (December 14), marking the second such incident in two days. The pilots of a Falcon 900EX business jet, traveling from Aruba to Miami, reported the near collision to air traffic control in Curaçao shortly after the incident. They described the encounter at approximately 26,000 feet, saying, "We were climbing right into him."
This incident follows a similar close call on Friday (December 13), when a JetBlue flight from Curaçao to New York had to halt its ascent to avoid the same type of military aircraft. The JetBlue pilot reported that the Air Force tanker crossed directly in front of their flight path without its transponder turned on, which is an electronic device that helps track aircraft positions. The pilot expressed frustration, calling the situation "outrageous."
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued a warning last month, advising U.S. airlines to exercise caution due to increased military activity near Venezuela. This advisory was repeated on Tuesday (December 17), highlighting potential risks to aircraft at all altitudes. Several airlines have responded by canceling flights to and from Venezuela. The investigation into these near collisions is ongoing, and authorities are gathering more information to prevent future incidents.
The U.S. Southern Command is reviewing both incidents, emphasizing that safety is a top priority.
