Pilot avoids midair collision with B-52 using 'aggressive maneuver'
Share this @internewscast.com


() The pilot of a Delta regional flight heading for Minot, North Dakota, avoided a midair collision with a B-52 bomber Friday by performing an “aggressive maneuver.”

The plane, operated by SkyWest, departed from Minneapolis and did not have the military jet on its radar.

“Nobody told us about it,” the pilot told passengers, recorded on audio by a woman on the plane.

“So sorry about the aggressive maneuver, it caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all,” the pilot can be heard saying. “I don’t know why they didn’t give us a heads-up because the Air Force base does have radar … long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it and thank you for understanding.”

Minot Air Force Base is about 13 miles north of the Minot International Airport. The commercial pilot received a report from the air traffic control tower about an aircraft coming toward them. He was instructed to turn right, but he didn’t.

“He said, ‘Turn right.’ I said, ‘There’s an airplane over there.’ He says, ‘Turn left,’ and by the time we (were) back to clearance, we looked over and saw the airplane that was coming on a converging course with us,” the pilot said.

He turned behind it instead.

“They are a lot faster than us, and I felt that was the safest thing to do, turn behind it,” the pilot said.

Passengers began clapping after the pilot finished his announcement.

Monica Green, who recorded the audio, told a local news outlet that passengers were “weirdly calm,” despite the tense situation.

“I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy because no one else was reacting,” Green told KFYR. “ The pilot got on the intercom and said, ‘Sorry everybody, I’ll explain everything when we land safely.’ The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment. We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet.”

Delta and SkyWest have not responded to ‘s request for comment as of publication.

Video filmed by passenger Monica Green onboard flight DL3788 captured the announcement made by the pilot explaining the “aggressive maneuver” he conducted to avoid hitting a nearby Air Force B-52 bomber near Minot International Airport in North Dakota on Friday, July 18. (Monica Green via Storyful)
Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Tiebreakers Hosts Exciting “Noon-Year Eve” Celebration for Kids

As the excitement for the New Year builds, families in Johnson City…

Urgent Search Underway for Missing Man Near Lake Apopka Wildlife Drive

APOPKA, Fla. – The search intensifies for a 76-year-old man who disappeared…

Orlando Gears Up for a Family-Friendly New Year’s Eve 2026 Celebration Downtown

As the countdown to 2026 begins, Orlando is bustling with excitement, gearing…

Tragic Collision on Markham Woods Road: Seminole County Authorities Launch Investigation

SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. – Authorities are currently investigating a tragic accident that…

Unrest in Iran: Revolutionary Guard Volunteer Fatality Fuels Escalating Protests

DUBAI – In Iran, a member of the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard has…

Sullivan County Public Library in Blountville to Host ‘Noon Year’s Eve’ Balloon Drop Celebration

BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. — The Sullivan County Public Library welcomed families to an…

Tennessee Receives Over $200 Million Boost for Rural Healthcare Improvements

In a significant move to enhance healthcare access in rural regions, new…

Tennessee Hemp Industry on Edge: Navigating Upcoming State and Federal Regulatory Shifts

Tennessee’s burgeoning hemp industry is on the cusp of a transformative phase,…

Brave Firefighters Combat Intense Blaze at New Smyrna Beach Residence

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. – A residential fire erupted Thursday morning in…

Zohran Mamdani Makes History: Sworn in as NYC Mayor at Iconic Subway Station

NEW YORK – In a historic moment for New York City, Zohran…

New Year Kicks Off with Soaking Rose Parade in California and Snow Squalls Sweeping Across Midwest and Northeast

For the first time in two decades, rain drenched the legendary Rose…

Traffic Stop in Flagler County Leads to Recovery of Missing Child and Arrest

In a significant development on Wednesday morning, law enforcement in Flagler County…