'Nobody Said There’s A B-52': Pilot’s Scary Mid-Air Dodge To Avoid Bomber Goes Viral
A Delta pilot narrowly avoided a mid-air collision with a B-52 bomber near Minot, ND. His viral in-flight announcement highlights a shocking lapse in air traffic communication and safety.
In a heart-pounding moment at 10,000 feet, the pilot of a Delta Connection flight was forced to make an aggressive evasive maneuver to avoid a possible mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber. The incident unfolded during the flight from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, on July 18, and was reportedly caused by a breakdown in air traffic communication.
The commercial flight, operated by SkyWest Airlines, encountered the military aircraft unexpectedly during its approach to Minot. According to initial reports, the Delta pilot had received no prior warning from air traffic control about the bomber’s presence in their path.
Unseen Threat in the Skies
SkyWest has since launched an internal investigation into the near-miss. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed to People that Flight 3788 landed safely after being cleared for approach. However, the pilot was forced to perform a go-around when the bomber suddenly appeared in the aircraft's flight path.
Pilot’s Candid Account Goes Viral
A video capturing the pilot’s announcement after landing has gone viral on TikTok, offering a rare, candid look into the terrifying experience. In the clip, the pilot can be heard calmly explaining the situation to passengers, many of whom had witnessed the aircraft looming nearby.
🚨 A military B-52 bomber jet almost crashed into Delta flight 3788 yesterday, July 18.
— Jackie Singh 🦅 🇺🇸 (@HackingButLegal) July 20, 2025
Pilot sounded shaken after making a sudden evasive maneuver to avoid collision.
Will the media cover this latest evidence of Pete Hegseth‘s dangerous incompetence? 🤔
WATCH: pic.twitter.com/26IS3QtX3r
“For those of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane kind of coming at us,” the pilot said. “Nobody told us about it, and so we continued. There's no radar here, so the tower does everything visually.”
Confusion in the Control Tower
He described how he was initially instructed to report about six miles from the airport and take a specific turn. But when he spotted the approaching B-52 and alerted air traffic control, he said they directed him to turn the opposite way.
“By the time we went back to clearance with nowhere, I saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us,” he said.
'This Is Not Normal' — Pilot Apologizes
Acknowledging the shock of the incident, he offered a heartfelt apology: “So sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads-up, because the airport base does have radar. And nobody said, ‘Hey, there’s also a B-52 in the pattern.’ Long story short, it was not fun. I apologize for it.”
Lingering Questions Over Airspace Safety
The pilot’s transparency and quick thinking have been praised online, even as questions continue to swirl around how such a close encounter could happen in controlled airspace.
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