SkyWest pilot makes 'aggressive maneuver' to avoid midair collision
July 21 (UPI) -- A SkyWest flight performed an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid a collision with another aircraft on the same flight course.
The SkyWest flight departed from Minnesota to North Dakota on Friday when a B-52 bomber "became visible in their flight path" as it prepared to land in Minot International Airport.
The pilot was then forced to perform "a go-around" to avoid collision with the aircraft.
After the flight -- Delta 3788, operated by SkyWest -- landed safely, the pilot apologized to the passengers.
"Given his speed ... I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it," the pilot said, according to video of his announcement to passengers. "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. Not a ... not a fun day at work."
The pilot added that controllers at the airport rely on visuals to make calls as it does not have radar.
"I just remember the plane going, sideways and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass, like you weren't seeing the skyline anymore," said Monica Green who shared video of the pilot's apology to social media.
Both SkyWest and the Air Force announced they were investigating the incident.
"We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport. We are currently looking into the matter. We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening," an Air Force spokesperson said
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The FAA is also offering bonuses to experienced controllers if they opt not to retire early and continue working to help ease the shortage. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
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But contract towers also have the ability to hire controllers who retired from an FAA tower before the mandatory retirement age of 56. The contract towers don't have a retirement age. The FAA has been working for a long time to hire more air traffic controllers to replace retiring workers and handle growing air traffic. But it can be hard to find good candidates for the stressful positions who can complete the rigorous training. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has announced several efforts to hire and retain more controllers. The FAA is trying to shorten the time it takes between when someone applies to the air traffic controller academy in Oklahoma City and when they start training, and the agency is also trying to improve the graduation rate there by offering more support to the students. The candidates with the highest scores on the entrance exam are also getting top priority. The FAA is also offering bonuses to experienced controllers if they opt not to retire early and continue working to help ease the shortage.
