Passenger Jet Avoids Mid-Air Collision with B-52 Bomber over North Dakota

A near mid-air collision occurred last week over Minot, North Dakota, between a SkyWest Airlines passenger jet operating as Delta Connection and a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber conducting a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair. The SkyWest pilot executed an aggressive evasive maneuver after an air traffic controller issued a last-second warning to avoid the much faster B-52, safely landing the plane with 76 passengers onboard. Audio recordings reveal the pilot's surprise at the lack of prior warning and the visual-based air traffic control operations due to no radar coverage in the area. Both the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Air Force have launched investigations into the incident, with SkyWest also conducting its own review. The B-52 was part of the strategic bomber fleet stationed at Minot Air Force Base, which typically operates at higher altitudes, making the close proximity to the civilian jet unusual and raising safety concerns about military flights near civilian airspace. Passengers on the flight reported feeling the abrupt maneuver, and the pilot apologized for the sudden course change, emphasizing the unusual nature of the event.