A JetBlue flight that was coming from Curacao to New York City’s John F. Kennedy Airport on Wednesday, Jan. It survived a huge safety embarrassment when it almost crashed into a United States Air Force jet. The event, which has the aviation community seriously spooked about potential midair collisions, happened while that JetBlue flight was high up and maintaining altitude.
Their story went this way, as told by the JetBlue captain who first alerted everyone when another aircraft crossed right in front of them. ALPA’s pilot avatar said the proximity was shocking and could have been as close as two to three miles. The portending distance between the two aircraft remains up in the air. The encounter exposed possible shortcomings in air traffic communications and tracking.
“We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within five miles of us — maybe two or three miles — but it was an air-to-air refueler from the United States Air Force and he was at our altitude,” – the JetBlue pilot.
Things became even more critical when the transponder on the Air Force plane was unable to turn on. This device is essential for ensuring planes keep safe distances between each other. This dismal failure begs the question — what does compliance with established aviation safety regulations mean?
In response to the incident, a spokesperson for the Air Force stated, “Military aircrews are highly trained professionals who operate in accordance with established procedures and applicable airspace requirements.” Even more alarming is that the absence of a working transponder during this crucial moment is a clear failure of the protocol.
The JetBlue pilot further expressed his frustration by stating, “We almost had a midair collision up here.” This is perhaps one of the starkest yet honest statements about the criticality of our present moment. It reinforces the imperative to consistently enforce stringent safety protocols in crowded airspace.
The incident changes the picture, demonstrating the complexities of air travel. It highlights how crucial it is to have strong communication between civilian and military aircraft. Covered military operations are absolutely essential. They need to be done with enough safeguards to ensure the safety of all surrounding aircraft.