This article summarizes reporting by NBC News and Yamiche Alcindor.

JetBlue Flight Takes Evasive Action Near Venezuela After Encounter with “Dark” Military Jet

New details have emerged regarding a significant safety incident involving a commercial JetBlue flight and a U.S. military aircraft operating in international airspace near Venezuela. According to reporting by NBC News, the incident occurred on Friday, December 12, 2025, when a JetBlue Airbus A320 was forced to halt its climb to avoid a potential collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker that was not broadcasting its location.

The encounter, which took place near Curaçao, highlights the growing friction between civilian air traffic and increased military operations in the Caribbean. Audio recordings from the cockpit, obtained and released by NBC News, reveal a tense exchange between the commercial pilots and air traffic control immediately following the near-miss.

At AirPro News, we are tracking the implications of this event, particularly regarding the safety protocols for military aircraft operating in busy civilian corridors without active transponders.

“Harrowing Moments” in the Cockpit

JetBlue Flight 1112 had departed from Curaçao (CUR) and was en route to New York (JFK). Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, while the aircraft was climbing through 33,000 feet, the flight crew visually identified a large military aircraft directly in their path at the same altitude.

According to the data summarized by NBC News, the military aircraft, identified as a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker, had its transponder turned off. This rendered the tanker invisible to the JetBlue aircraft’s automated collision avoidance systems until the pilots made visual contact. The commercial crew immediately stopped their climb to maintain vertical separation.

In the air traffic control audio released by NBC News, the JetBlue pilot expressed immediate frustration regarding the lack of electronic visibility:

“We almost had a midair collision up here. They passed directly in our flight path… They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”

The pilot estimated that the military jet passed within two to three miles of the commercial airliner’s nose. While this distance may sound substantial to a layperson, at cruising speeds, it represents a margin of seconds. The controller on duty in Curaçao reportedly agreed with the pilot’s assessment, noting that the situation with unidentified aircraft in the region had become “outrageous.”

The Risks of “Dark” Military Operations

The primary safety failure in this incident stems from the military aircraft operating “dark”, flying without an active transponder. Transponders are essential for modern aviation safety, as they broadcast an aircraft’s altitude and position to both ground radar and other aircraft equipped with Traffic Collision Avoidance Systems (TCAS).

According to the report, the U.S. military has increased its presence in the region for drug interdiction operations and to apply pressure on the Venezuelan government. While military aircraft often disable transponders during sensitive combat or stealth operations to avoid detection by adversaries, doing so in a standard civilian flight corridor poses severe risks.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has previously issued warnings to U.S. carriers regarding the “worsening security situations” near Venezuelan airspace, advising extreme caution. However, this incident suggests that the danger may not only come from foreign actors but also from coordination failures involving U.S. assets.

AirPro News Analysis

The Failure of De-confliction: While military necessity sometimes dictates stealth, the proximity of this incident to a major civilian airport (Curaçao) suggests a breakdown in “de-confliction”, the process of ensuring military and civilian flights do not occupy the same airspace simultaneously. The fact that the Curaçao air traffic controller was unaware of the tanker’s presence until the JetBlue pilot reported it indicates a lack of communication between military command and civilian air traffic authorities.

Systemic Risk: This is not an isolated technical glitch but a systemic risk inherent in mixed-use airspace. When “dark” targets operate near commercial lanes, the safety of passengers relies entirely on the “see and avoid” principle, which is less reliable at high altitudes and high speeds than automated radar systems.

Official Responses

Following the release of the details, the involved parties issued statements regarding the event:

• JetBlue: The airline confirmed the incident and stated they have reported the matter to federal authorities. They emphasized that their crew is trained for various flight situations and will participate fully in the investigation.
• U.S. Air Force: A spokesperson acknowledged the report, stating that safety is a top priority and that they are currently reviewing the facts of the encounter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Was anyone injured on JetBlue Flight 1112?
No injuries were reported. The aircraft took evasive action by halting its climb, but there were no reports of violent maneuvers that caused passenger injury.

Why do military planes turn off their transponders?
Military aircraft may disable transponders to avoid detection by adversarial radar systems during sensitive operations. In this case, it was likely to avoid tracking by Venezuelan military radar.

How close did the planes actually get?
The pilots estimated the horizontal separation was between 2 and 3 miles. Vertically, they were at the same altitude before the JetBlue crew halted their climb.

Sources

• NBC News