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JetBlue has confirmed that one of its flights narrowly avoided a midair collision with a US Air Force refueling tanker near Venezuelan airspace.

Getting into it: According to cockpit audio recordings and flight tracking data, JetBlue Flight 1112 was climbing out of Curaçao en route to New York’s JFK Airport when it encountered a US Air Force tanker flying directly into its path at the same altitude. The JetBlue pilot immediately stopped the aircraft’s ascent to avoid a collision, stating over the radio, “We almost had a midair collision up here… They passed directly in our flight path.”

The pilot added that the tanker had no active transponder, which made it invisible to both cockpit sensors and air traffic control systems. The aircraft was reportedly just 2 to 3 miles away (roughly 20 seconds apart based on airspeed).

JetBlue reported the incident to federal authorities and added that its crew responded according to established safety procedures. “Our crew members are trained on proper procedures for various flight situations, and we appreciate our crew for promptly reporting this situation to our leadership team,” a JetBlue spokesperson said. The air traffic controller on duty confirmed the tanker was not visible on radar and told the JetBlue pilot that such incidents involving unidentified aircraft had been increasing.

The Pentagon has not issued a direct comment but referred all inquiries to the US Air Force, which has yet to respond publicly. However, US Southern Command acknowledged the incident and said it is under review. “We are aware of the recent reporting regarding US military aircraft operations in the Caribbean and are currently reviewing the matter,” said a spokesperson, adding that safety remains a top priority.

This near collision comes amid a noticeable escalation in US military operations across the Caribbean as part of anti-narcotics missions and efforts to apply strategic pressure on the Venezuelan government. Air Force tankers and other military aircraft have been flying missions from Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, the Dominican Republic, and near Trinidad.