A major air disaster was narrowly avoided in U.S. airspace. On Friday, July 19, SkyWest Airlines Flight 3788, en route from Minneapolis to Minot, encountered a collision risk with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber while approaching for landing. The pilot performed a missed approach to avoid the collision and later told passengers, “This is not normal.”
Footage recorded by passengers and the pilot quickly spread on social media. According to an in-flight announcement captured on video, the pilot made a sharp right turn to avoid the potential collision and admitted it was “not fun,” apologizing to passengers. The pilot received applause after the announcement.
Air Force Remains Silent
The U.S. Air Force has not yet released details on the B-52’s location, altitude, or whether it was coordinating with air traffic control at the time. It only acknowledged that both civilian and military aircraft were operating around Minot International Airport and confirmed that the incident is under investigation.
Flight Data Confirms the Incident
According to flight tracking data reviewed by The Washington Post, the SkyWest aircraft made a sudden right turn near the airport during its descent, then gained altitude before attempting another landing. Simultaneously, the B-52 was observed making elliptical patterns in the area.
The incident coincided with the North Dakota State Fair in Minot, and Air Force officials confirmed that the B-52 was conducting flyovers near the fairgrounds on that day.
Passenger Testimony: “The Plane Tilted Sideways”
Monica Green, a passenger on board, told NBC News:
“I remember the plane going sideways. When I looked out the window, all I could see was grass—it felt like the horizon had disappeared. It was really unsettling.”
This incident has reignited debate over coordination between civilian and military aircraft, coming just months after the January crash near Washington, D.C., where a Black Hawk helicopter collided with a passenger jet, killing 67 people.
