Near Miss: US Passenger Jet Forced to Make "Aggressive Maneuver" to Avoid Midair Collision with Air Force Bomber

Strategic Insights -

A dramatic near miss occurred last Friday in North Dakota when a Delta Connection flight, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was forced to make an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a midair collision with a US Air Force B-52 bomber. The incident happened while the flight was en route from Minneapolis to Minot International Airport, which is located about 20 kilometers from the Minot Air Force Base. Despite being cleared by air traffic control to land, the pilot was forced to perform a "go-around" after the B-52 bomber appeared in the flight path.

Key Takeaways:

  • The incident occurred on a Friday evening when the B-52 bomber was conducting a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair, which was being held at the Minot Air Force Base.
  • The Delta Connection flight, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was en route from Minneapolis to Minot International Airport when the near miss occurred.
  • The pilot was forced to make an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a midair collision with the B-52 bomber.
  • A video posted to Instagram and verified by Storyful showed the pilot explaining to passengers that the B-52 was on a converging course.
  • The pilot apologized for the sudden and "aggressive maneuver" required to avoid a midair collision, adding that "nobody told us" about the presence of the other aircraft.
  • A US Air Force spokesperson confirmed that they are aware of the reporting and are currently investigating the incident.

Statistics:

  • The incident occurred on July 19, 2025.
  • The B-52 bomber was conducting a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair, which was being held at the Minot Air Force Base.
  • The Delta Connection flight was en route from Minneapolis to Minot International Airport.
  • No injuries or fatalities were reported in the incident.
  • The US Air Force is currently investigating the incident.

Sources:

  • Xinhua (July 22, 2025)
  • The Washington Post (July 21, 2025)
  • Minot Daily News (July 21, 2025)
  • Instagram (verified by Storyful)
  • COMTEX_467466461/2084/2025-07-21T20:08:48