JetBlue Flight Near Venezuela Avoids ‘Midair Collision’ With US Air Force Tanker

JetBlue Flight Near Venezuela Avoids ‘Midair Collision’ With US Air Force Tanker
A JetBlue logo is displayed on the side of a jet as it taxis at Boston's Logan International Airport on Jan. 20, 2011. Stephan Savoia/AP Photo
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WASHINGTON—A JetBlue flight from the small Caribbean nation of Curaçao halted its ascent to avoid colliding with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker on Friday, and the pilot blamed the military plane for crossing his path.

“We almost had a midair collision up here,” the JetBlue pilot said, according to a recording of his conversation with air traffic control. “They passed directly in our flight path. ... They don’t have their transponder turned on, it’s outrageous.”