A Delta Connection pilot was forced to make an aggressive evasive maneuver to avoid what could have been a catastrophic mid-air collision with a B-52 bomber over North Dakota, exposing dangerous gaps in military-civilian air traffic coordination that put innocent lives at risk.
At a Glance
- A SkyWest pilot executed an emergency maneuver to avoid a B-52 bomber during approach to Minot International Airport on July 18, 2025.
- The Air Force B-52 was conducting a flyover for the North Dakota State Fair without what appears to be proper coordination with civilian air traffic control.
- The pilot’s apology to passengers, explaining the maneuver was necessary due to the bomber’s unexpected presence, has gone viral.
- Both SkyWest Airlines and the U.S. Air Force have launched investigations into the near-miss incident.
A Near-Catastrophe Over North Dakota
Passengers aboard SkyWest flight 3788 from Minneapolis experienced every air traveler’s nightmare on Friday when their pilot was forced into an abrupt, aggressive maneuver to avoid colliding with a massive B-52 bomber. The terrifying incident occurred during the final approach to Minot International Airport.
In a now-viral video recorded by a passenger, the pilot apologized to the shaken passengers after landing. “So sorry about the aggressive maneuver, it caught me by surprise,” the pilot said. “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… long story short, it was not fun.”
Air Force Puts a PR Stunt Over Public Safety
The U.S. Air Force has confirmed that a B-52 from the nearby Minot Air Force Base was conducting a flyover for the North Dakota State Fair around the time of the incident. The military’s priority seems to have been executing a publicity stunt rather than ensuring proper coordination with civilian air traffic control to protect the lives of passengers on a commercial flight.
Aviation experts are pointing out that with today’s sophisticated tracking and communication systems, this type of near miss should be impossible in controlled airspace. The fact that it happened suggests either gross negligence in flight planning or a complete breakdown in communication between military and civilian controllers.
A Pilot’s Heroics vs. a System’s Failure
Predictably, both SkyWest Airlines and the U.S. Air Force have announced they are “investigating the incident“—government-speak for buying time until the public moves on. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which is ultimately responsible for the safety of our skies, has been conspicuously silent.
The pilot of SkyWest 3788 deserves to be hailed as a hero. His quick thinking and professionalism are the only reasons we are not discussing a mass casualty event. While bureaucrats in Washington prepare their carefully worded statements and launch their toothless investigations, this pilot’s split-second decision-making highlights a systemic failure that put hundreds of innocent lives at risk.