MINOT, N.D. (Diya TV) — A Delta Connection flight narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber on Friday near Minot International Airport, sparking federal and military investigations. The incident occurred on July 18, when SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection, was preparing to land in Minot. The regional jet had departed Minneapolis earlier that day. According to the pilot and passengers, the plane made a sharp turn to avoid the oncoming military aircraft.
“All of a sudden we just jerk hard to the right,” said passenger Monica Green in an interview with ABC News. “We just kept taking more turns and more turns.” She described confusion and concern as the jet maneuvered suddenly during final approach. The pilot later addressed the cabin over the intercom. “I’m sorry, everybody. I’ll explain everything once we’ve landed safely,” he said during the flight.
Once on the ground, the pilot offered more detail. “Given his speed … I don’t know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us,” he told passengers. “I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it.” He added, “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.” The pilot described the moment as “not a fun day at work” and thanked passengers for their understanding.
The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed Monday that it is investigating the near-miss. Minot International Airport operates without radar and uses visual flight rules (VFR). Air traffic controllers at Minot are contractors and not employed by the FAA. The U.S. Air Force also acknowledged the event. A spokesperson confirmed that a B-52 bomber based at Minot Air Force Base conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair the same evening.
“We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport,” the spokesperson said. “We are currently looking into the matter.”
It remains unclear how close the two aircraft came to one another or if cockpit warning systems alerted the Delta pilot before the maneuver. SkyWest, which operates regional flights for Delta, said flight 3788 had been cleared for approach by the Minot control tower. The crew performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in the flight path.
“SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Minot, North Dakota, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path. We are investigating the incident,” a company spokesperson said.
The near-miss raises questions about airspace coordination between military and civilian operations—especially at smaller airports without radar capabilities. Minot’s proximity to an active Air Force base adds to the complexity. The event also calls attention to the safety protocols and communication systems in place when military aircraft operate in civilian airspace. The lack of early warning to the Delta pilot remains a concern.
Though no injuries occurred and the Delta regional jet landed safely, the tense moments in the sky have caught the attention of both aviation authorities and the public. As of Monday, no details have been released on the distance between the two aircraft at the time of the incident. The FAA and U.S. Air Force continue to review the situation.
