New York [US], July 21: The New York Post reported on July 21 that a passenger plane operated by SkyWest Airlines nearly collided in the air with a B-52 bomber over North Dakota (USA).
The pilot of an American airline made a quick decision and "forceful" maneuver to avoid an aviation tragedy.
The incident occurred when the Delta Connection Embraer E175 operated by SkyWest Airlines was en route from Minneapolis-Saint Paul Airport to Minot Airport in North Dakota and nearly collided with a B-52 bomber departing from Minot Air Force Base.
According to AviationA2Z , the pilot on the passenger plane quickly maneuvered to avoid the incoming B-52, an incident that was seen through the window by crew members and passengers on the right side of the plane.
Passengers on board the plane said the atmosphere on board was "unusually calm" as the passenger plane suddenly made a series of sharp turns.
"I felt like I was doubting myself, like I was being paranoid, because no one else was reacting," passenger Monica Green told KFYR TV.
The passenger said the plane suddenly made a sharp turn and the captain turned on the loudspeaker and announced, "I'm sorry everyone, I'll explain everything when we land safely."
"The way he said it made me feel like he was implying that a safe landing might not be a certainty at that moment. We all just looked at each other and fell silent," the female passenger said.
The pilot informed passengers that he had received instructions from air traffic control to change course because the distance to an aircraft ahead on the approach path was not safe enough.
He explained that he had received no advance warning of the military aircraft, which he considered highly unusual, since Minot Air Force Base was equipped with radar. He quickly determined that the safest course of action was to maneuver the aircraft around behind the bomber.
After the passenger plane landed safely, many passengers thanked the pilot for explaining the near-miss. SkyWest Airlines said it was investigating the incident.
Minot Air Force Base is home to the 5th Bomb Squadron and the 91st Missile Wing, along with a large number of US Air Force equipment and facilities, including 26 B-52 bombers .
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper