Passengers aboard a recent SkyWest flight, operating as Delta Connection between Minneapolis and Minot, North Dakota , found themselves in an unexpected situation on Friday, as the aircraft’s captain had to execute an aggressive maneuver to avoid a close encounter with a B-52 bomber from the United States Air Force. The pilot, flying an Embraer 175 , turned sharply during the aircraft’s approach, causing alarm and surprise among those on board.
Monica Green, a passenger who recorded a video of the incident, shared it on Instagram. In the video, the captain addresses the passengers about the incident:
“Given their speed—they were military, I don’t know at what speed they were going, but they were much faster than us—I thought it was safest to turn around. I greatly apologize for the aggressive maneuver. It took me by surprise. This is not normal.”
An Unexpected Event Under Investigation
In response to the situation, the FAA launched an investigation on Monday. According to SkyWest Airlines, despite being given permission to land, the flight had to perform a frustrated approach maneuver upon sighting another aircraft in its flight path. The airline is also conducting its own evaluation of the incident.
Curious about the B-52 bomber’s presence? It was reportedly involved in a scheduled flyover for the North Dakota State Fair , as confirmed by the Air Force. This annual event takes place in Minot, where a civil airport and an Air Force base coexist. The military stated that “ the tower did not report the commercial plane ,” and after completing its flyover, the bomber was ordered to divert three kilometers west.
<span>Tiktok @Theruralrose user recorded both aircraft in the sky during the North Dakota State Fair</span>Data from flight monitoring platform Flightradar24 confirm that the Embraer 175 executed a sudden turn to the right, regained altitude, and circled before resuming the approach. The FAA noted that air traffic control in Minot is managed by an external company , with operators meeting the same training and qualification standards set by the FAA. Green recounted her experience to CNN, stating:
“It was a very sharp turn and then he moved quite a bit to the side. I looked out the window, and all I saw was the grass.”
<img alt="Airplanes have been depending on GPS for decades. Some engineers have another idea to replace it: quantum technology " width="375" height="142" src="https://i.blogs.es/2d0611/ross-parmly-rf6ywhvkrly-unsplash/375_142.jpeg"/>The Embraer 175 is part of the E-Jet family , a series of regional aircraft manufactured by the Brazilian company Embraer. Its design is tailored for short to medium-haul routes, typically accommodating between 76 and 88 passengers , depending on the seating configuration. The aircraft is equipped with GE CF34-8E turbofan engines and can achieve a cruise velocity of nearly 890 km/h (Mach 0.82) , with a typical range exceeding 3,300 km .
Images and video linked to the incident can be found via the following sources: Embraer | @Theruralrose (Tiktok) | US Air Force
The incident illustrates the complexities of air traffic and the importance of safety measures in aviation, particularly in areas where civilian and military flights overlap. As investigations continue, both SkyWest and the FAA aim to ensure that such close calls are prevented in the future.