Delta pilot’s daring move: how a split-second decision saved flight from mid-air B-52 disaster

As reported by a Delta pilot flying on route to Minot, North Dakota, was forced to make an “aggressive manoeuvre” to prevent a collision with a B-52 bomber, present, mid-air.

The SkyWest-operated flight took off from Minneapolis, Minnesota on July 18, the date of the incident happening.

The pilot after landing, apologised, to the passengers and explained the reason he had to evade and cause such a manoeuvre.


"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 pilot reportedly added, as the discussion was recorded.

The pilot coolly measured the situation by saying, I apologise for such an event and that he was surprised the Air Force base radar missed it, when it should have always been functional. He thanked the crew for being so understanding and said,“It was not a pleasant day at work.”

It remains unclear if the cockpit alarm was triggered as general response for possible collisions to the pilots, and if not, could be looked at as a surprising miss as an Air Force base with B-52 bombers is located near Minot, expectedly heightening security from Air Force or Air Traffic Controllers.

"Recent reports of Air Force and commercial aircraft operating in the vicinity of Minot International Airport are something we are aware of. We're investigating the situation right now,” stated an Air Force spokeswoman to ABC News on Sunday night, July 20.

"We can confirm that a B-52 aircraft assigned to Minot AFB conducted a flypast of the North Dakota State Fair Friday evening." According to SkyWest, the event is being looked into.