 "How US passenger airline pilot avoided mid-air collision with a B-52 bomber")
A Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest Airlines was involved in a tense midair encounter near Minot, North Dakota, on July 18, when its pilot abruptly changed course to avoid a potential collision with a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress.
The regional jet, carrying commercial passengers, had been preparing to land at Minot International Airport when the incident occurred during its final approach phase.
The unexpected presence of the military aircraft and the ensuing avoidance manoeuvre have prompted separate investigations by the airline and federal aviation officials.
The incident has also raised questions about military and civilian coordination in shared airspace.
How it happened
SkyWest Flight 3788, operating as a Delta Connection service, departed Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport on a scheduled route to Minot, North Dakota.
The aircraft, an Embraer E175, was nearing its destination and had received clearance for approach from the airport’s control tower.
However, shortly before landing, the crew was forced to perform what the pilot later described to passengers as an “aggressive manoeuvre” to avoid another aircraft that suddenly appeared in their flight path.
SkyWest confirmed that the aircraft was cleared for final approach but initiated a go-around when the crew visually identified an unexpected aircraft ahead.
“SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident,” the airline stated.
Passengers reported that the jet made a sharp turn, prompting immediate concern on board.
Monica Green, a passenger seated on the flight, said she felt the aircraft veer suddenly and sharply. “We took a really hard turn, and that’s when the pilot got on the intercom and said, ‘sorry everybody, I’ll explain everything when we land safely,’” she told CNN.
“It caught me by surprise”
Once the aircraft safely landed in Minot, the pilot addressed the passengers, detailing what had happened in the moments leading up to the go-around.
His remarks, recorded and shared in a now-viral TikTok video, indicated that the encounter was both unexpected and serious.
NEW: Delta pilot makes an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid colliding with a B-52 bomber above Minot, North Dakota.
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) July 20, 2025
New audio footage captured by a passenger onboard the plane reveals what exactly happened, according to the pilot.
"Given his speed ... I don't know how fast they… pic.twitter.com/Hos687fZRm
The pilot told passengers that while communicating with the tower, he was instructed to report six miles out from the airport. Upon executing a right turn, he suddenly observed another aircraft on the same side and was advised by air traffic control to instead turn left.
Describing the other aircraft’s velocity and behaviour, he remarked: “I don’t know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us. I thought that was the safest thing to do was turn behind it.”
The pilot added that the aircraft was “kind of, sort of coming at us” and expressed frustration that no advance warning had been provided.
“Nobody told us about it,” he said.
“Sorry about the aggressive manoeuvre, it caught me by surprise, this is not normal at all. 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 apologise for it and thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work.”
The passengers responded with applause, showing appreciation for the pilot’s honesty and handling of the situation.
How passengers reacted
Despite the abrupt turn, passengers on board reportedly remained calm, reported New York Post. Green also told KFYR-TV that at first, she questioned whether the severity of the turn was real.
“I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting,” she said.
Green explained that the tone in the pilot’s voice after the manoeuvre made it clear that the situation had been tense.
“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.”
She appreciated the pilot’s transparency after the fact, saying that he offered a thorough account of what had happened and did not attempt to downplay the seriousness.
“He was very casual, if you can be casual about something like that, but you could tell he was stressed. He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed. It felt good that they weren’t just going to brush it off.”
What we know about the B-52 Stratofortress
The aircraft involved in the near-miss was identified as a US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range heavy bomber designed for high-altitude strategic missions.
According to the US Air Force, the B-52 is capable of flying at high subsonic speeds at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet and can carry both nuclear weapons and conventional precision-guided munitions.
The bomber was part of a flyover event for the North Dakota State Fair and had departed from Minot Air Force Base, which is located near the city’s commercial airport.
In a statement provided to ABC News, an Air Force spokesperson confirmed the aircraft’s presence in the area.
“We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport. We are currently looking into the matter. We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening,” the spokesperson said.
Minot AFB is home to two major operational units: the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing.
Together, they manage a significant portion of the US Air Force’s strategic arsenal, including 26 B-52 bombers stationed at the facility.
Unanswered questions arise
One of the unresolved questions is how the encounter occurred despite the presence of radar infrastructure at the military base.
The pilot, in his remarks to passengers, expressed surprise that the proximity of the B-52 had not been communicated earlier, particularly given that the Air Force base has radar capability.
Additionally, oversight complications arise from the fact that the Minot airport control tower involved in the incident is not operated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Because of this, the FAA has not yet issued a formal report on the event but confirmed it is in the process of collecting relevant data.
The agency has not disclosed whether any automated alert systems in the cockpit were triggered during the encounter, nor has it released details about the exact distance between the two aircraft at the moment the evasive manoeuvre was performed.
What we know about ongoing investigations
SkyWest Airlines has launched an internal review to determine how the event unfolded and whether any procedural or communication lapses occurred.
The airline has reiterated that passenger safety is its top priority and noted that the crew acted in accordance with standard procedures once the unidentified aircraft appeared.
The FAA, while not directly responsible for the tower in question, is also investigating. The agency’s current focus is on understanding the coordination — if any — between military and civilian aviation authorities in that specific airspace during the time of the incident.
Although no injuries were reported and the flight completed its journey without mechanical issues, the sudden manoeuvre and close proximity of a military bomber have added urgency to calls for clearer communication protocols when civilian and military aircraft operate in overlapping zones, particularly near dual-use airports such as Minot.
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