US Air Force Investigates Near Miss Between B-52 Bomber, Passenger Plane North Dakota

On July 18, a near-collision incident occurred over Minot International Airport in North Dakota involving a SkyWest commercial passenger plane and a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber flying from Minot Air Force Base. The SkyWest pilot, while cleared to land, had to abort and circle after spotting the fast-approaching B-52 entering the plane's flight path, executing an aggressive maneuver to avoid collision. The Air Force confirmed the B-52 conducted a flyover of the North Dakota State Fair that evening but did not initially receive advisories about the inbound commercial flight, prompting an ongoing investigation by both the Air Force and the airline. The pilot apologized to passengers for the sudden maneuver, emphasizing the rarity and surprise of the situation. The FAA and Minot AFB Public Affairs have since provided more details, highlighting communication gaps and the military aircraft's lack of awareness of the civilian plane's approach. Both the Air Force and SkyWest are reviewing the incident to improve safety and coordination in shared airspace.