Pilot's Bold Move Averts Mid-Air Collision with B-52

A Near-Collision in the Skies Over Minot

A routine flight from Minneapolis to Minot took an unexpected and tense turn when a SkyWest plane, operating as a Delta Connection flight, had to make emergency maneuvers to avoid a potential mid-air collision with a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber. The incident occurred on July 18, 2025, and left passengers in a state of quiet anxiety, unsure of what had just transpired.

The flight, designated DL3788, was operated by a SkyWest pilot and traveled from Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) to Minot International Airport (MOT). According to reports, the Embraer E175 jet came dangerously close to a B-52 Stratofortress that was flying out of Minot Air Force Base during the journey. The pilot’s quick decision to take evasive action prevented a possible disaster, and once the plane landed safely, the crew provided a detailed explanation of the event.

Passengers described the atmosphere on board as “weirdly calm,” despite the sudden and sharp turns the plane made. Monica Green, a frequent flyer who was seated in the front of the plane, shared her experience. She said that while she felt uneasy, others around her did not seem to react strongly at first.

“I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting,” Green said. “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.’ The way he said it, it almost sounded like he was insinuating that landing safely might not be an option for a moment.”

The flight circled the Minot Airport several times before finally landing. Green used a flight tracking app to monitor the unusual pattern and sent texts to her husband, expressing her growing concern. Her husband’s response—“no, this is serious”—triggered a wave of internal panic.

Despite the tension, Green praised the pilot for his transparency and composure. “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,” she said.

Green didn’t see the bomber from her seat, but after landing, she overheard conversations in the small airport terminal. “When we landed, it was really quiet. No one stood up right away like people normally do. At the airport, I heard some people saying their friends saw it from the ground. The other plane nearly hit us, and it went so low it passed under us,” she added.

The Delta flight ultimately landed safely, but the event left a lasting impression on those onboard. Green reflected on her experience, saying, “Maybe I was overreacting. But being in the very front row, you feel everything, and those hard turns, you could tell something wasn’t right.”

SkyWest issued a statement following the incident, confirming that the flight landed safely after performing a go-around due to another aircraft appearing in the flight path. The airline is currently investigating the event. The Federal Aviation Administration referred inquiries to the U.S. military, and no further details have been released at this time. Updates are expected as more information becomes available.