An civilian airliner was forced to descend rapidly to avoid a collision with an unidentified military tanker aircraft.
A serious incident was reported on Friday involving JetBlue Flight B61112, which was climbing out of Willemstad, Curaçao, en route to New York.
The central issue in the incident appears to be the military aircraft’s operational status. According to reports, the tanker was operating without an active transponder, effectively rendering it invisible to both air traffic control (ATC) and other aircraft equipped with traffic collision avoidance systems (TCAS).
The pilots of the JetBlue Airbus A320 (registration N809JB) reported the close encounter to ATC after they visually acquired the large military aircraft while passing through an altitude of approximately Flight Level FL333–FL334. This immediate visual sighting prompted the crew to take evasive action by descending.
Flight data confirmed the immediate maneuver: Flightradar24 data shows the JetBlue aircraft halting its climb and briefly entering a descent at approximately 21:04 UTC.
The incident raises significant safety concerns regarding military operations in shared commercial airspace, particularly when aircraft are not broadcasting their position. An investigation into the circumstances surrounding the near-miss is expected.
SOUTHCOM released the following statement: “We are aware of the recent reporting regarding U.S. military aircraft operations in the Caribbean and are currently reviewing the matter. Military aircrews are highly trained professionals who operate in accordance with established procedures and applicable airspace requirements. Safety remains a top priority, and we are working through the appropriate channels to assess the facts surrounding the situation.”
