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Second Civilian Jet Reports Near Miss With U.S. Air Force Tanker Off Venezuela

Officials have opened reviews following the encounters, with heightened cautions for civil flights near Venezuelan airspace.

Overview

  • Pilots of a Falcon 900EX traveling from Aruba to Miami reported a close pass with a large refueling tanker on Saturday around 26,000 feet, saying “we were climbing right into him.”
  • The report came one day after JetBlue Flight 1112 halted its climb to avoid a U.S. tanker that the crew said was not transmitting a transponder signal.
  • U.S. Southern Command and the Pentagon said they are reviewing the incidents, and the National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it is gathering information.
  • The FAA reissued an advisory on Tuesday warning of potential risks to arrivals, departures, overflights, and even ground operations near Venezuela.
  • The Dutch Safety Board acknowledged awareness of the events affecting Curaçao-controlled airspace, and airlines have adjusted schedules, including Copa extending its Caracas suspension through mid-January.