Overview

• The pilot of SkyWest Flight 3788 executed an aggressive go-around on July 18 after spotting a B-52 bomber converging on its final approach to Minot International Airport.
• A viral cockpit recording captures the pilot apologizing to passengers and lamenting the lack of a heads-up despite the nearby Air Force base having radar capability.
• Flight-tracking data reviewed by investigators shows the Embraer E175 made a sharp right turn, climbed in altitude and circled safely before landing on a second approach.
• The FAA, U.S. Air Force and SkyWest have each launched investigations to examine air traffic control procedures and shared airspace coordination.
• The Air Force confirmed the B-52 was on an approved North Dakota State Fair flyover, underscoring gaps at Minot’s visual-only control tower.