A Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest Airlines was forced to take abrupt evasive action to avoid a mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber near Minot, North Dakota, according to multiple reports confirmed by ABC News.
The incident occurred during the final approach of Delta Flight 3788, an Embraer E175 traveling from Minneapolis St. Paul International Airport to Minot International Airport. As the aircraft neared its destination, the pilot spotted the large military bomber approaching at close range and executed what was later described as an “aggressive maneuver” to avoid a potentially catastrophic collision.
“Sorry about that, folks,” the pilot was heard saying over the intercom after the sudden maneuver. “That was not a fun day at work. We had to avoid a B-52, and it came up on us pretty fast.”
Passengers reported the maneuver was sharp but praised the pilot’s calm and transparent communication. One traveler described the cabin as “weirdly calm” during the turn, crediting the pilot’s tone for keeping panic at bay.
SkyWest Airlines confirmed the near-miss, stating that the aircraft “performed a go-around maneuver when another aircraft entered its flight path.” The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the U.S. Air Force are now investigating the incident.
No injuries were reported on board the regional jet, which landed safely in Minot after the go-around.
Questions Raised Over Military–Civilian Airspace Coordination
Minot is home to Minot Air Force Base, a key strategic site for the U.S. Air Force, and shares nearby airspace with civilian aircraft. The proximity of military flight paths to commercial aviation routes is expected to be a focal point of the investigation.
Neither the Air Force nor Minot AFB has issued a public statement regarding the B-52’s flight plan or how it intersected with the Delta jet’s approach.
Experts note that while go-arounds are a standard safety procedure in aviation, such aggressive maneuvering to avoid another aircraft particularly a heavy bomber raises serious concerns about airspace deconfliction and communication between military and civilian aviation authorities.
What’s Next
The FAA and military officials are expected to review radar data, flight logs, and communication transcripts to determine how the close encounter occurred and whether any protocols were breached.
Passengers and crew are safe, but the event is likely to renew calls for enhanced coordination around military bases with shared civilian airspace.
