Delta Pilot's Aggressive Maneuver to Avoid B-52 Bomber Over North Dakota

Close Call Over North Dakota

• ✈️ A Delta Connection regional jet, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was forced to make an aggressive maneuver to avoid a US Air Force B-52 bomber.
• ⚠️ The incident occurred on Friday, July 18th, as the commercial flight approached Minot, North Dakota, for landing.
• 📍 The B-52 was performing a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair at the time of the near-miss.

Pilot's Account and Passenger Experience

• 🗣️ The Delta pilot apologized to passengers, stating the maneuver caught him by surprise and was "not normal at all."
• 🔊 Audio recordings captured the pilot explaining the situation, noting the airport has radar and expressing surprise that the B-52 was not communicated.
• 😲 A passenger described the maneuver as a hard, sideways turn that felt eerie and unusual, despite the pilot's calm demeanor.
• 📊 The passenger appreciated the pilot's transparency about the situation, finding it made her feel safer.

Investigation and Airspace Concerns

• 🔍 The U.S. Air Force confirmed awareness of the incident and is investigating the matter.
• ❓ Key unknowns include how close the aircraft came, whether they were on a collision course, and the exact communications between air traffic control and the aircraft.
• 🔀 CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo highlighted concerns about mixed-use airspace and different air traffic control entities managing military and commercial aircraft.
• 📡 Schiavo noted that while the B-52 was reportedly visible on ADS-B, it may not have been broadcasting at the critical moment of the near-collision, and alleged lack of communication with approach control.
• 👏 Kudos were given to the pilot for his skillful handling of the emergency situation.