A second near midair collision involving a US Air Force aerial refueling tanker was reported near Venezuelan airspace, raising renewed concerns about military aircraft operating without transponders in a busy international flight corridor.
The latest incident occurred on December 13, 2025, and involved a Falcon 900EX business jet flying from Oranjestad, Aruba, to Miami-Opa Locka Executive Airport, according to radio transmissions and incident reporting. The flight crew reported the encounter to air traffic controllers in Curaçao shortly after takeoff.
Controllers initially warned the Falcon crew of unidentified traffic roughly 10 miles ahead on a reciprocal course and issued a heading change. According to the pilot, the maneuver instead placed the aircraft on a collision course with what appeared to be a large military tanker, later believed to be a KC-46 or KC-135.
“They were really close,” one of the pilots told air traffic control during the exchange. “We were climbing right into him,” the pilot added, estimating the encounter occurred at approximately 26,000 feet while climbing to 38,000 feet. The crew described the opposing aircraft as “something big,” initially mistaking it for a widebody airliner.
Air traffic controllers later indicated the unidentified aircraft was maneuvering irregularly. The Falcon ultimately cleared the conflict and continued to Miami, where it landed without further incident.
The encounter followed a similar near miss one day earlier, when the pilots of a JetBlue A320 flying from Curaçao to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport reported that a US military tanker crossed directly in front of their flight path during their climb. The JetBlue crew said the tanker was operating without an active transponder, forcing them to abruptly stop their climb to avoid a collision.
Audio from that earlier incident, reviewed by multiple outlets, captured the JetBlue pilot describing the situation as “outrageous.”
The Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory last month warning US airlines of heightened military activity near Venezuela, cautioning that threats could pose risks to aircraft at all altitudes, including during overflight and departure and arrival phases. The FAA reiterated the warning this week following the second reported incident.
Several international carriers have since reduced or suspended service to Venezuela. Copa Airlines said it would extend its suspension of flights to and from Caracas through at least January 15, 2026, due to operational conditions.
The US Southern Command confirmed it is reviewing both incidents, while the National Transportation Safety Board said it is gathering information. Dutch aviation authorities also acknowledged awareness of the incidents, which occurred in airspace near Curaçao, part of the Netherlands.
