Airline pilot forced to pull off ‘aggressive' move to avoid catastrophic midair collision with Air Force B-52 bomber
FLIGHT PANIC Airline pilot forced to pull off 'aggressive' move to avoid catastrophic midair collision with Air Force B-52 bomber
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window)
Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
A PILOT was forced to pull off an "aggressive" move to avoid a catastrophic midair collision with an Air Force B-52 bomber.
The Delta regional jet was on approach to Minot, North Dakota, when it came terrifyingly close to colliding with the Stratofortress during the 90-minute flight.
Sign up for Scottish Sun
newsletter
Sign up
4
The Delta regional jet was on approach to Minot, North Dakota, when it came terrifyingly close to colliding with the Stratofortress
Credit: Getty
4
A fast-thinking commercial pilot executed an 'aggressive' move to avoid a midair collision
4
A US Air Force B 52 bomber
Credit: Getty
The pilot of the Embraer E175 jet performed an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid the rapid incoming bomber.
Crew members as well as well as passengers on the right side of the jet could be seen from their windows, Aviation A2Z reports.
Passengers en route from Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Minot International Airport in North Dakota said the plane's atmosphere was "weirdly calm" as it made various sharp turns randomly.
One passenger Monica Green recalled to KFYR TV: "I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting.
read more news
CRASH DISASTER Pilots of doomed South Korean plane 'switched off wrong engine', killing 179
"We took a really hard turn, and that's when the pilot got on the intercom and said 'sorry everybody, I'll explain everything when we land safely.'
"The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment.
"We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet."
She went on to praise the pilot for then going into detail on what actually happened - and could tell he was shaken by the horror ordeal by his voice.
Monica added: "He was very casual, if you can be casual about something like that, but you could tell he was stressed.
"He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed.
Terrifying moment Boeing passenger plane catches FIRE after take off with flames erupting from the engine
"It felt good that they weren't just going to brush it off."
The pilot told confused passengers that he had received instructions from air traffic controllers to change the aircraft's direction due to inadequate separation from a preceding aircraft on the approach path.
He went on to say that he had no prior warning of military air traffic and swiftly decided the safest option was to turn the plane behind the bomber, KFYR TV reports.
After explaining the terrifying situation, the pilot received praise and thanks from grateful passengers for his transparency in the near-miss.
The B-52 bomber had come from Minot Air Force Base, which houses the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing along with a large number of US Air Force equipment and vehicles.
The affected passenger plane was a Delta Connection regional jet that was being operated by SkyWest Airlines.
SkyWest said in a statement: "SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path.
"We are investigating the incident."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Daily Mail
At least 20 dead and more than 170 rescued after Air Force training plane smashed into school in Bangladesh
At least 20 people, mostly students, have been killed and more than 170 rescued after an Air Force training plane smashed into a school in Bangladesh. The Bangladesh Airforce training aircraft smashed into a campus in Dhaka, the capital, shortly after takeoff on Monday afternoon where it burst into flames and claimed the life of the pilot. Another 171 students were rescued with injuries from a smoldering two-story building, officials said, including many with burns who were whisked away in helicopters, motorised rickshaws and the arms of firefighters and parents. The Chinese-made F-7 BGI training aircraft experienced a 'technical malfunction' moments after takeoff at 1:06pm local time, and the pilot attempted to divert the plane to a less populated area before crashing into the campus of Milestone School and College, according to a statement from the military. Students said the school's buildings trembled violently, followed by a big explosion that sent them running for safety. A desperate scene soon unfolded at the crash site, as panicked relatives searched for loved ones. Screams filled the air at a nearby hospital. Television footage showed fire and smoke billowing from the site of the crash as bystander are seeing trying put out the flames. Other clips circulating on social media show crowds of students fleeing from the scene in a panic. The Milestone school is in Dhaka's Uttara neighborhood, which is roughly seven miles drive from the A.K. Khandaker air force base. The school is in a densely populated area near a metro station and numerous shops and homes. The pilot, Flight Lt. Mohammed Toukir Islam, made 'every effort to divert the aircraft away from densely populated areas toward a more sparsely inhabited location,' the military said, adding that it would investigate the cause of the accident. The government announced a national day of mourning on Tuesday, with flags to fly at half-staff across the country. At the crash site Monday afternoon, a father sprinted with his daughter cradled in his arms. A mother cried out, having found her younger child, but desperately searched for her older one. Another father described his feeling of helplessness while waiting to learn the fate of his daughter. 'The plane crashed on the building where my daughter was. My wife called me, but I was praying so I could not pick up,' Jewel, who goes by one name, said at the scene. 'When I came here I saw there was a huge fire. There was a dead body of a child.' Luckily, his daughter was safe, he said, but he saw many other children suffering from burns. Students also scrambled to see what had happened. 'We fought with the crowd and the soldiers to get close to the crash site in our school,' said Estiak Elahi Khan, who is in the 11th grade. 'What I saw I can't describe that... that's terrible.' Doctors at Uttara Adhunik Hospital said more than 60 students, many between the ages of 12 and 16, were transferred to a special hospital for burn victims. Bangladesh's fire service and security personnel conduct a search and rescue operation after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on July 21 A truck arrives after an air force training aircraft crashed into Milestone College campus, in Dhaka, Bangladesh, 21 July 2025 By Monday evening, rescuers continued to scour the debris, searching for bodies. A crane was being used to remove debris. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, also pledged an investigation, and he expressed his deep sorrow over the 'heartbreaking accident.' He called it 'a moment of deep national grief.' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed shock and sadness. 'Our hearts go out to the bereaved families,' Modi said in a post on X. 'India stands in solidarity with Bangladesh and is ready to extend all possible support and assistance.' Rafiqa Taha, a student who was not present at the time of the crash, said by phone that the school, with some 2,000 students, offers classes from elementary grades through high school. 'I was terrified watching videos on TV,' the 16-year-old said. 'My God! It's my school.' It is the deadliest plane crash in the Bangladeshi capital in recent memory. In 2008, another F-7 training jet crashed outside Dhaka, killing its pilot, who had ejected after he discovered a technical problem. The incident comes a little over a month after an Air India plane crashed on top of a medical college hostel in neighbouring India's Ahmedabad city, killing 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 on the ground, marking the world's worst aviation disaster in a decade. A preliminary report into the crash found that fuel switches for the engines of the doomed Boeing 787 Dreamliner began to lose thrust and sink down moments after setting of to London from the Indian city on June 12. In the flight's final moments, one pilot was heard on the cockpit voice recorder asking the other why he cut off the fuel. 'The other pilot responded that he did not do so,' the report by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) said. It did not identify which remarks were made by the flight's captain and which by the first officer, nor which pilot immediately transmitted the distress call: 'Thrust not achieved... falling... Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' Seconds later the jet began losing height and exploded into a fireball after smashing into a hostel on the ground in Gujarat, claiming the lives of all but one passenger on board and 19 people on the ground. Investigators' early assessments indicate no apparent fault with the Boeing or its engines, suggesting that Boeing and engine maker GE had no apparent responsibility for the accident. But the report does not say how the switch - which is used to start or shut down the engines and are typically left on during flight - could have flipped to the cutoff position. 'Did they move on their own or did they move because of the pilots?' he asked. 'And if they were moved because of a pilot, why?' The report said the jet was carrying 54,200kg of fuel, which was within the 'allowable limits'. 'The aircraft achieved the maximum recorded airspeed of 180 Knots IAS at about 08:08:42 UTC and immediately thereafter, the Engine 1 and Engine 2 fuel cutoff switches transitioned from RUN to CUTOFF position one after another with a time gap of 01 sec,' the report said. 'The Engine N1 and N2 began to decrease from their take-off values as the fuel supply to the engines was cut off. A helicopter hovers over security personnel making way for an ambulance carrying an injured victim after an Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka on July 21, 2025 Referring to data recovered from the plane's two Enhanced Airborne Flight Recorders (EAFR), it continues: 'As per the EAFR, the Engine 1 fuel cutoff switch transitioned from CUTOFF to RUN at about 08:08:52 UTC. The APU Inlet Door began opening at about 08:08:54 UTC, consistent with the APU Auto Start logic. Thereafter at 08:08:56 UTC the Engine 2 fuel cutoff switch also transitions from CUTOFF to RUN. 'When fuel control switches are moved from CUTOFF to RUN while the aircraft is inflight, each engine's full authority dual engine control (FADEC) automatically manages a relight and thrust recovery sequence of ignition and fuel introduction.
Daily Mirror
6 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
‘Massive' blue Hydrangea that ‘blooms 30 flowers in first season' is now 50% off
This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. Learn more 'Massive' blue Hydrangea that 'blooms 30 flowers in first season' is now 50% off (Image: Getty) Hydrangeas are beautiful plants that sprout up everywhere in the summer season. They earn pride of place in gardens thanks to their large size and vibrant colours, which transform any outside space into a floral display. A monster of a plant, as they can be expected to throw out up to 30 strong flower heads during their first flowering season in your garden. A wonderful Hydrangea variety with huge flowers, often found in high-class florist bouquets, it has really massive blooms that elevate any garden, border or patio. And right now, green-thumbed shoppers can get their hands on a delicate and stunning pastel blue specimen for half its normal price, as it plummets all the way down to £19.99 in this Gardening Express sale. READ MORE: Large apple tree that will produce fruit in its first season plummets from £35 to £15 READ MORE: 'Beautiful' water feature that's 'so very charming and realistic' falls from £176 to £66 This Powder Blue Hydrangea was £39.99 but is now £19.99 (Image: Gardening Express) Hydrangeas offer masses of healthy growth each year and quickly establish, producing massive, bright flower clusters even when planted in a dull, shady spot. This makes them a great choice for sprucing up any area, whether you'd like to brighten a boring border or create a vibrant and eye-catching centrepiece in your backyard. This large-flowered mop-head variety has huge powder blue blooms, up to the size of a football when fully established. These blooms literally cover the plant all summer before fading to an attractive purple-burgundy shade during the autumn season. On heavily alkaline soils, the blooms will turn from Blue to pink and can even be pale lavender mauve somewhere between the two, depending on the soil pH. These are larger plants and great value for a specimen of such size and age. For best results season after season, it's recommended that you cut this plant near ground level over winter each year so you can watch it throw up masses of strong new stems and big blooms each summer. These plants are very strong and ready to grow away with vigour, no matter where you plant them. The special Hydrangeas are guaranteed chunky, healthy plants that will flower well all summer and into early Autumn, so you can enjoy the array of colour in your outdoor area for nearly half of the year. Looking beautiful in summer, these are supplied as fully-established XXXL plants in approx 10 litre containers that are ready to simply be planted and left alone. Sit back and relax and watch as these huge plants transform flower beds, borders or patio planters with their generous size, high yield of flowers and bold colours. If you'd prefer to shop elsewhere at full price, Gardener's Dream is offering this Hydrangea 'Blue Ballad' for £26.23, or Thompson & Morgan has this Hydrangea macrophylla 'Blue Danube' from £29.99, as does Dobies for the same price.
The Independent
7 hours ago
- The Independent
A pilot made sharp turn to avoid a B-52 bomber over North Dakota, then took to the mic to explain
The pilot of a regional airliner flying over North Dakota carried out an unexpected sharp turn and later apologized to passengers, explaining that he made the move after spotting a military plane in his flight path. The Friday incident is detailed in a video taken by a passenger and posted to social media as Delta Flight 3788 approached the Minot International Airport for landing. In the video, the SkyWest pilot can be heard over the plane's intercom system explaining that he made the sharp left turn after spotting a B-52 bomber in his flight path. 'Sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise,' the pilot can be heard saying on the video. "This is not normal at all. I don't know why they didn't give us a heads up.' SkyWest, a regional carrier for Delta and other large airlines, said the flight had departed from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and landed safely in Minot after performing a 'go-around' maneuver when another aircraft became visible in the SkyWest plane's flight path. Minot is 100 miles (160 kilometers) north of Bismarck, North Dakota's capital city, and about 50 miles (80 kilometers) from the Canadian border. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that it's investigating the incident. SkyWest said it is also investigating. In the video, the pilot noted that Minot's small airport does not operate radar and directs flights visually. When the airport tower instructed the SkyWest flight to make a right turn upon approach, the pilot said he looked in that direction and saw the bomber in his flight path. He informed the tower and made a hard left instead, he said. 'I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us,' the pilot said of the bomber. The North Dakota incident comes nearly six months after a midair collision between an Army helicopter and a jetliner over Washington, D.C., that killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft. Minot Air Force Base is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of Minot, North Dakota's fourth-largest city. The base is home to 26 B-52 bombers, intercontinental ballistic missile operations and more than 5,400 military personnel. An Air Force spokesperson confirmed Monday that a B-52 bomber assigned to the base conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair on Friday and that the Air Force is 'looking into' the report of a bomber and a commercial airliner operating in the same airspace around the Minot airport. The pilot's frustration is evident in the video. 'The Air Force base does have radar, and nobody said, 'Hey, there's a B-52 in the pattern,'' the pilot told passengers. ——- Beck reported from Omaha, Nebraska.
