A Delta Connection flight operated by SkyWest Airlines narrowly avoided a dangerous situation in the sky over Minot, North Dakota, on July 18. The regional passenger jet had to change course suddenly during its final approach to Minot International Airport to avoid a possible collision with a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress bomber.
What Happened Midair
SkyWest Flight 3788 had taken off from Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport and was preparing to land in Minot. The aircraft, an Embraer E175, had already received landing clearance from the control tower.
Just before landing, the pilot made an unexpected sharp turn to avoid another aircraft. The passengers were told later that this was an “aggressive manoeuvre” made for safety.
According to SkyWest, the jet was cleared for landing but had to go around after the crew spotted another aircraft in their path. The airline said in a statement, “SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, 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.”
Inside the Cabin: Panic and Pilot’s Honesty
Passengers on board noticed the sharp movement. One of them, Monica Green, shared her experience with CNN, saying, “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.’”
After landing safely, the pilot addressed passengers, explaining the situation in detail. His explanation, captured in a viral TikTok video, suggested that the encounter was unplanned and serious.
He explained that they were told to report their location six miles from the airport. As they made a right turn, he spotted another aircraft on the same side. Air traffic control then asked him to turn left. Describing the situation, he said, “I don’t know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us. I thought that was the safest thing to do was turn behind it.”
He added that the bomber was “kind of, sort of coming at us” and said, “Nobody told us about it.”
The pilot apologized, saying, “Sorry about the aggressive manoeuvre, 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 Air Force base does have radar … long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologise for it and thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work.”
His honesty was met with applause from passengers.
🚨🚨 NEW: Delta pilot makes an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid colliding with a B-52 bomber above Minot, North Dakota.
"Given his speed … I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us, I felt it was the safest thing to do to turn behind it," the… pic.twitter.com/i0ROYBADkE
— JOSH DUNLAP (@JDunlap1974) July 20, 2025
Passengers Reflect on the Scare
Despite the frightening manoeuvre, most passengers stayed calm. Monica Green told KFYR-TV that at first, she wasn’t sure how serious the turn was, saying, “I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting.”
She noted that the pilot’s tone made it clear how tense the situation was. She appreciated his transparency, saying, “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. It felt good that they weren’t just going to brush it off.”
About the B-52 Bomber
The aircraft that nearly crossed paths with the commercial jet was a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress, a long-range heavy bomber. It can fly at altitudes up to 50,000 feet and carry both nuclear and conventional weapons.
The bomber was performing a flyover for the North Dakota State Fair and had taken off from Minot Air Force Base, which is located near the city’s main airport.
An Air Force spokesperson confirmed the bomber’s flight and told ABC News, “We are aware of the recent reporting regarding commercial and Air Force aircraft operating in airspace around Minot International Airport. We are currently looking into the matter. We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening.”
Minot AFB houses two major units: the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing, managing 26 B-52 bombers and part of America’s strategic defense.
Still Unanswered
One major concern is how this close encounter happened despite the nearby Air Force base having radar. The pilot expressed frustration that they weren’t informed ahead of time, especially since the military has the tools to monitor such movements.
Another issue is that the Minot airport control tower isn’t run by the FAA, which limits the FAA’s immediate oversight. However, the FAA has started collecting data and is looking into the incident. It hasn’t confirmed if the plane’s cockpit systems issued any alerts or how close the two planes actually were.
Investigations Underway
SkyWest Airlines has started an internal investigation to find out if there were any communication or procedural failures. The airline emphasized that its crew followed standard protocols and that safety remains its top priority.
The Federal Aviation Administration is also investigating, focusing on the coordination (or lack of it) between civilian and military aviation in shared airspace.
Even though the flight landed without injuries or mechanical issues, this event has renewed concerns over how military and civilian aircraft coordinate, especially near airports used by both.
