Overview
- JetBlue flight 1112, an Airbus A320 from Curaçao to New York, stopped its climb on December 12 at about 33,800 feet to avert a reported close pass by a U.S. Air Force KC-135R.
- Pilots told Curaçao controllers the military aircraft crossed their path at roughly 2–5 miles and said its transponder was off, which kept it off civilian trackers.
- Recordings capture controllers expressing alarm about unidentified aircraft in the sector, and public platforms like Flightradar24 did not display the tanker.
- JetBlue says it notified federal authorities and will cooperate with any investigation, while a U.S. Air Force spokesperson says the service is aware and examining the incident.
- A standing NOTAM (A0717/25) urges extreme caution in Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao airspace through December 31, 2025, citing reports of unidentified operations in the area.