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NDTV
2 days ago
- General
- NDTV
North Dakota Authorities Didn't Warn B-52 Bomber About Airliner: Air Force
North Dakota: Air traffic controllers at a small North Dakota airport didn't inform an Air Force bomber's crew that a commercial airliner was flying in the same area, the military said, shedding light on the nation's latest air safety scare. A SkyWest pilot performed a sharp turn, startling passengers, to avoid colliding with the B-52 bomber he said was in his flight path as he prepared to land Friday at Minot International Airport. The bomber had been conducting a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, approved in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Minot International Airport air traffic control, and the Minot Air Force Base's air traffic control team, the Air Force said in a statement Monday. As the bomber headed to the fairgrounds shortly before 8 pm, the base's air traffic control advised its crew to contact the Minot airport's air traffic control. 'The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) westbound after the flyover,' the Air Force said. 'The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft.' Video taken by a passenger on Delta Flight 3788 — which departed from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport — captured audio of the SkyWest pilot explaining over the plane's intercom that he made the hard bank after spotting the bomber in the flight path that Minot air traffic control had directed him to take for landing. 'Sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise,' the pilot can be heard saying on the video posted on social media. 'This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads-up.' The FAA, Air Force, and SkyWest are investigating. The airliner had 76 passengers and four crew members onboard, SkyWest Airlines said. It's just the latest flight scare in recent months. In February, a Southwest Airlines flight about to land at Chicago's Midway Airport was forced to climb back into the sky to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway. That followed the tragic midair collision of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter over Washington, DC, in January that killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft. Those and other recent incidents have raised questions about the FAA's oversight. And this incident renews questions raised after the Washington DC crash about how well the military communicates with civilian air traffic controllers when their flights share the same airspace. The FAA said Monday that a private company services the Minot air traffic control tower, and that the controllers there aren't FAA employees. It is one of 265 airport towers nationwide that are operated by companies, but the roughly 1,400 air traffic controllers at these smaller airports meet the same qualification and training requirements as FAA controllers at larger airports, the agency said. The city of Minot, which owns and operates the airport, didn't comment Tuesday on the Air Force's statement, but said the airport is relying on the different agencies to conduct their investigations. Phone and email messages left Tuesday for Midwest Air Traffic Control Inc, which provides air traffic control service for the Minot airport, were not immediately returned. The contract tower program has been in place since 1982, and it has been repeatedly praised in reports from the Transportation Department's Inspector General. Some small airports like Minot's also don't have their own radar systems on site. In fact, the vast majority of the nation's airports don't even have towers, mainly because most small airports don't have passenger air service. But regional FAA radar facilities do oversee traffic all across the country, and an approach control radar center in Minneapolis helps direct planes in and out of Minot before controllers at the airport take over once they see the planes. The Minot airport typically handles between 18 and 24 flights a day. Former NTSB and FAA crash investigator Jeff Guzzetti said it is common for small airports like Minot to operate without their own radars. He said radars are cost-prohibitive to install at every airport, and it generally works fine for airport controllers to direct planes into landing visually. If the weather is bad, a regional FAA radar facility may be able to help, but ultimately, planes simply won't be cleared to land if the weather is too bad. Guzzetti, who oversaw one of the Inspector General reports, said the contract tower program has been hugely successful and improves safety at small airports because if they didn't have a contract tower, small airports would be uncontrolled. And he said the safety record of contract towers is similar — if not better — than federal towers. 'We still have to see what happened here. But even if it was a controller screwup, I don't think that should indict or raise questions about the contract tower program. It's been a stalwart,' Guzzetti said.
New York Post
3 days ago
- General
- New York Post
B-52 bomber wasn't warned about approaching Delta plane before shocking near-miss in North Dakota: Air Force
Air traffic controllers in North Dakota failed to warn a US Air Force B-52 bomber about an approaching passenger jet, which was forced to take evasive action to avoid a midair collision, the military claimed. The B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base was participating in a scheduled flyover at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot Saturday night, just minutes before tragedy nearly struck, according to the Air Force. The planned maneuver had been cleared in advance with the Federal Aviation Administration and air traffic controllers at both Minot International Airport and Minot Air Force Base, with military crews in direct contact throughout, officials said. Advertisement 4 Map showing a near-collision near Minot, ND, between a B-52 bomber and a Delta plane. 'The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover,' military officials said in a statement Monday. 'The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft. The B-52 crossed the fairgrounds show center at 7:50 p.m. and proceeded west as directed to clear Minot International Tower's airspace before returning to Minot AFB.' Advertisement The SkyWest Airlines flight – en route from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Minot International Airport – made an unexpected series of 'aggressive' sharp turns mid-air to avoid the incoming bomber, which was reportedly visible from the right-side windows to both crew and passengers. 4 The B-52 bomber was conducting a flyover Saturday when it was given the OK to travel. AP Video taken by a passenger aboard the harrowing Delta-operated aircraft captured the quick-thinking pilot explaining to the 76 travelers and four crew members onboard that he banked hard after spotting the bomber directly in the landing path given by air traffic control. 'Sorry about the aggressive maneuver,' the heroic pilot said in the footage shared on social media. Advertisement 4 The Air Force said air traffic controllers at Minot International Airport failed to warn them about the incoming plane. AP '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 fun day at work.' While the plane landed safely, the near-miss marks the latest in a string of alarming aviation incidents and tragedies to rattle the skies since the start of the year. 4 The pilot was forced to make an unexpected series of 'aggressive' sharp turns mid-air to avoid the bomber. Advertisement The FAA is investigating Saturday's incident. With Post wires.
The Hill
3 days ago
- General
- The Hill
Air Force blames air traffic controllers for near miss involving B-52 bomber
Air traffic controllers at a North Dakota airport didn't tell the crew of an Air Force B-52 bomber that a commercial airliner was flying in the same area, causing a near miss between the planes, according to the military. In a statement released Monday evening, the Air Force said the B-52 crew told Minot International Airport's air traffic control that the bomber was nearing the area where a SkyWest Airlines pilot was approaching to land the evening of July 18. 'The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft,' the Air Force said. The pilot of the passenger jet Flight 3788, which departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, was forced to veer sharply to avoid the B-52, startling passengers, though both planes landed safely. A passenger aboard the commercial flight captured a video of the pilot's explanation over the intercom of what had occurred, during which he said he had to make an 'aggressive maneuver' to turn after spotting the bomber in his flight path. 'Sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise,' the pilot said. 'This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up.' SkyWest is owned by Delta Air Lines. The Air Force explained that the bomber, from Minot Air Force Base, had been conducting a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot that was 'planned in advance' and 'approved by the Federal Aviation Administration' the Minot International Airport air traffic control and the military base's air traffic control team. Ahead of the flyover, the B-52 crew contacted its base air traffic control team as well as that of the Minot International Airport's air traffic control tower. At 7:40 p.m. the bomber crew told the base they were departing their holding point for the fairgrounds. Three minutes later the base directed the crew to contact the airport's air traffic control. 'The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover,' the Air Force said, noting that the tower did not advise them of the incoming commercial aircraft. The flyover happened at 7:50 p.m., and the B-52 kept flying west as instructed to clear the airport's airspace before returning to base, according to the Air Force. The FAA, Air Force and SkyWest are investigating the incident, the latest in a string of recent air safety scares. On Jan. 29, an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter collided over Washington, D.C., killing all 67 people aboard the two aircraft. It was later found that the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, on a training exercise, had been flying in airspace well above where it should have been when it struck the regional jet out of Wichita, Kansas. On Feb. 17, another flight out of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport owned by Delta crashed upon landing at Toronto Pearson International Airport. All 76 passengers and four crew members survived but 21 were injured. Then in late February, a Southwest Airlines flight set to land at Chicago's Midway Airport was forced to sharply rise back into the sky to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway. The FAA said Monday that a private company provides services for the Minot air traffic control tower, and that those controllers are not FAA employees.
Los Angeles Times
3 days ago
- General
- Los Angeles Times
Air traffic controllers didn't warn a B-52 bomber crew about a nearby airliner, the Air Force says
BISMARCK, N.D. — Air traffic controllers at a small North Dakota airport didn't inform an Air Force bomber's crew that a commercial airliner was flying in the same area, the military said, shedding light on the nation's latest air safety scare. A SkyWest pilot performed a sharp turn, startling passengers, to avoid colliding with the B-52 bomber that he said was in his flight path as he prepared to land Friday at Minot International Airport. The bomber had been conducting a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot that was approved in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Minot International Airport air traffic control and the Minot Air Force Base's air traffic control team, the Air Force said in a statement Monday. As the bomber headed to the fairgrounds shortly before 8 p.m., the base's air traffic control advised its crew to contact the Minot airport's air traffic control. 'The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles westbound after the flyover,' the Air Force said. 'The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft.' Video taken by a passenger on Delta Flight 3788, which departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and posted to social media captured audio of the SkyWest pilot explaining over the plane's intercom that he made the hard bank after spotting the bomber in the flight path that Minot air traffic control had directed him to take for landing. 'Sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise,' the pilot can be heard saying on the video. 'This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up.' The FAA, Air Force and SkyWest are investigating. It's just the latest flight scare in recent months. In February, a Southwest Airlines flight about to land at Chicago's Midway Airport was forced to climb back into the sky to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway. That followed the tragic midair collision of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., in January that killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft. Those and other recent incidents have raised questions about the FAA's oversight. The FAA said Monday that a private company services the Minot air traffic control tower, and that the controllers there aren't FAA employees. It is one of 265 airport towers nationwide that are operated by companies, but the roughly 1,400 air traffic controllers at these smaller airports meet the same qualification and training requirements as FAA controllers at larger airports, the agency said. Some small airports like Minot's also don't have their own radar systems on site. In fact, the vast majority of the nation's airports don't even have towers, mainly because most small airports don't have passenger air service. But regional FAA radar facilities do oversee traffic all across the country and help direct planes in and out of airports like Minot. The Minot airport typically handles between 18 and 24 flights a day. Dura and Beck write for the Associated Press. Beck reported from Omaha, Neb. AP writer Josh Funk contributed to this report from Omaha.
Winnipeg Free Press
3 days ago
- General
- Winnipeg Free Press
Air traffic controllers didn't warn a B-52 bomber crew about a nearby airliner, the Air Force says
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Air traffic controllers at a small North Dakota airport didn't inform an Air Force bomber's crew that a commercial airliner was flying in the same area, the military said, shedding light on the nation's latest air safety scare. A SkyWest pilot performed a sharp turn, startling passengers, to avoid colliding with the B-52 bomber that he said was in his flight path as he prepared to land Friday at Minot International Airport. The bomber had been conducting a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot that was approved in consultation with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Minot International Airport air traffic control and the Minot Air Force Base's air traffic control team, the Air Force said in a statement Monday. This photo from the North Dakota Governor's Office shows a B-52 bomber from Minot Air Force Base in a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair on Friday, July 18, 2025, in Minot, N.D.. (North Dakota Governor's Office via AP) As the bomber headed to the fairgrounds shortly before 8 p.m., the base's air traffic control advised its crew to contact the Minot airport's air traffic control. 'The B-52 crew contacted Minot International Airport tower and the tower provided instructions to continue 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) westbound after the flyover,' the Air Force said. 'The tower did not advise of the inbound commercial aircraft.' Video taken by a passenger on Delta Flight 3788, which departed from Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and posted to social media captured audio of the SkyWest pilot explaining over the plane's intercom that he made the hard bank after spotting the bomber in the flight path that Minot air traffic control had directed him to take for landing. 'Sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise,' the pilot can be heard saying on the video. 'This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up.' The FAA, Air Force and SkyWest are investigating. It's just the latest flight scare in recent months. In February, a Southwest Airlines flight about to land at Chicago's Midway Airport was forced to climb back into the sky to avoid another aircraft crossing the runway. That followed the tragic midair collision of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter over Washington, D.C., in January that killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft. Those and other recent incidents have raised questions about the FAA's oversight. The FAA said Monday that a private company services the Minot air traffic control tower, and that the controllers there aren't FAA employees. It is one of 265 airport towers nationwide that are operated by companies, but the roughly 1,400 air traffic controllers at these smaller airports meet the same qualification and training requirements as FAA controllers at larger airports, the agency said. Some small airports like Minot's also don't have their own radar systems on site. In fact, the vast majority of the nation's airports don't even have towers, mainly because most small airports don't have passenger air service. But regional FAA radar facilities do oversee traffic all across the country and help direct planes in and out of airports like Minot. The Minot airport typically handles between 18 and 24 flights a day. ___ Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press writer Josh Funk contributed from Omaha.
