The Captain of Delta flight DL3788 apologized to passengers for ‘aggressive maneuver’ to avoid a B-52 bomber while on approach to Minot.
A Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest Airlines narrowly avoided a collision with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber during its approach to Minot, North Dakota, on Friday, July 18.
The pilot of SkyWest Flight DL3788, en route from Minneapolis, made a sudden maneuver to avoid the military aircraft and later apologized to passengers over the intercom, according to recorded cockpit audio. At the end, the pilot apologized for the “aggressive maneuver.” “It caught me by surprise,” the pilot said.
The E175 aircraft (registration N604CZ), flying under the Delta brand, was on final approach to Minot International Airport when the crew spotted another aircraft directly in their flight path and initiated a go-around. SkyWest confirmed in a statement that the flight had been cleared for approach by the control tower but executed the go-around after visually identifying the conflicting traffic.
The aircraft involved in the near miss was identified as a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, which was performing a scheduled flyover for the North Dakota State Fair at approximately 7:40 p.m. — coinciding with the Delta regional jet’s arrival time.
The U.S. Air Force acknowledged the B-52’s involvement and said the matter is under internal review. “We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot Air Force Base conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening,” a spokesperson said.
The air traffic control tower at Minot Airport is operated by a private contractor, not the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
