(NewsNation) — The Air Force had FAA approval for its B-52 bomber flyover and wasn’t warned about an incoming aircraft before a near miss with a Delta plane on Friday, the military said.
“The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft,” the Air Force wrote in a statement Monday about the mid-air emergency.
An investigation by the Air Force and FAA is underway after a Delta regional flight heading to Minot, North Dakota, avoided a midair collision with the B-52 bomber by performing an “aggressive maneuver.”
The plane, operated by SkyWest, departed from Minneapolis and did not have the military jet on its radar.
“You probably saw the airplane kind of sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it,” the commercial pilot was heard telling passengers in an audio recording captured by a woman on the plane.
He went on to say, “So sorry about the aggressive maneuver, 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 apologize for it and thank you for understanding. It was not a fun day at work today.”
Minot Air Force Base is about 13 miles north of the Minot International Airport.
The B-52 was conducting a flyover at a special event recognizing the city of Minot as a “Great American Defense Community,” the Air Force said.
The flyover was planned in advance and the Air Force coordinated with the FAA’s local Flight Standards District Office, Minot International Airport air traffic control personnel, and Minot Approach Control (RAPCON), the military said.
“Minot Approach directed the B-52 crew at 7:43 p.m. to contact Minot International Airport’s air traffic control. The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft.”
statement issued by the Air Force
The commercial pilot said he 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,'” the pilot said. “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.”
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 in the audio recording from the plane.
Passengers began clapping after the pilot finished his announcement.
Monica Green, who recorded the clip, 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.”
The FAA is investigating the event involving SkyWest Airlines Flight 3788 at Minot International Airport on Friday, July 18. Air traffic services were provided by the Minot air traffic control tower, which is run by a private company. These controllers are not FAA employees.
FAA Statement
SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, 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.
SkyWest Airlines
On Friday, July 18, at approximately 7:50 p.m., a B-52 bomber from Minot AFB conducted a flyover at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds. This flyover was a special event recognizing the city of Minot as a ‘Great American Defense Community,’ an honor that highlights the city’s strong support for the military.
The flyover was planned in advance and approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. This included the FAA’s local Flight Standards District Office, Minot International Airport air traffic control personnel, and Minot Approach Control (RAPCON).
At approximately 7:10 p.m. prior to the flyover, the B-52 crew contacted Minot Approach (RAPCON) to prepare for the flyover. Required checklists were completed, and the crew remained in contact with Minot Approach as it flew to its holding point 12 miles east of the fairgrounds. While holding, the B-52 crew communicated the flyover plan to both RAPCON and Minot International Airport’s air traffic control tower.
At 7:40 p.m., the B-52 crew advised Minot Approach they were departing the holding point for the fairgrounds.
Minot Approach directed the B-52 crew at 7:43 p.m. to contact Minot International Airport’s air traffic control. The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover. The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft.
The B-52 crossed the fairgrounds show center at 7:50 p.m. and proceeded west as directed to clear Minot International Tower’s airspace before returning to Minot AFB.
The FAA is investigating the incident.
full statement by the Air Force