Delta Jet Aborts Landing to Avoid B-52 Collision in North Dakota

A Delta Air Lines Inc. jet was forced to abort landing to avoid a midair collision with a B-52 bomber in North Dakota last week. The incident occurred on July 18, when the Delta flight, operated by SkyWest Inc., was on approach to Minot Airport. The pilot, who was not identified, described the maneuver as “aggressive” in a recording of remarks to passengers after landing.

The near-miss incident is currently under investigation. The pilot had been cleared to land by an air traffic controller but executed a go-around maneuver upon seeing another aircraft in the flight path. According to Flightradar24 data, the Embraer SA E175 jet rapidly climbed from an altitude of about 2,200 feet to 4,150 feet and performed a u-turn to make a second attempt at touchdown.

The incident highlights the challenges of air traffic management, particularly in areas with both commercial and military air traffic. Minot Airport is located approximately 18 kilometers south of an Air Force base, which is home to 26 B-52 bombers and almost 13,000 personnel, dependents, and civilians on-site. The proximity of the military airfield adds to the complexity of managing air traffic in the region, as both commercial and military aircraft frequently operate in the same airspace.

The near-miss comes at a time when air safety in the US is under intense scrutiny. With a chronic shortage of controllers, breakdowns of air traffic systems, and the fatal crash involving an American Air regional jet with a US Army helicopter, US Transportation Secretary has pledged an overhaul to boost safety. Congress has provided the Federal Aviation Administration $12.5 billion to start the overhaul of air traffic telecommunications equipment, with the total cost estimated to be $31.5 billion.

The incident underscores the critical importance of effective communication and coordination between air traffic controllers and pilots to prevent such dangerous encounters. The lack of communication from the Air Force base regarding the B-52's presence was concerning, as it could have led to a catastrophic collision. The airline is currently investigating the event to determine the causes and prevent similar occurrences in the future.