A SkyWest Airlines flight operating as a Delta Connection from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, was forced to take evasive action Friday after encountering a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber in its flight path.
The mid-air maneuver led to a viral moment after the pilot addressed the incident to passengers, audio of which circulated widely on social media.
The incident occurred on July 18 as SkyWest flight 3788, an Embraer E175 aircraft, was approaching Minot International Airport.
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The aircraft was reportedly flying in proximity to a B-52 Stratofortress assigned to Minot Air Force Base when the evasive turn occurred.
Following the maneuver, the commercial flight circled the airport multiple times before landing safely.
“SkyWest flight 3788, operating as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota on July 18, landed safely in Minot after being cleared for approach by the tower but performed a go-around when another aircraft became visible in their flight path,” a SkyWest spokesperson said in a statement provided to FOX Business.
“We are investigating the incident.”
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A video posted to social media featured audio from the cockpit, in which the pilot explained the situation to passengers shortly after the maneuver.
“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 stated.
“So sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. I don’t know why they didn’t give us a heads-up, because the Air Force base does have radar … long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it, and thank you for understanding. Not a fun day at work.”
The U.S. Air Force and Minot Air Force Base have not yet responded to requests for comment regarding the incident.
Passenger Monica Green, who was seated in the front of the plane, described the flight as unsettling but said the cabin remained unusually composed throughout the experience.
“Honestly, everyone was weirdly calm,” Green told KFYR, a local news outlet.
“I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting. 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. We all just kind of looked at each other and stayed quiet.”
Green added that she texted her husband during the flight.
“I texted my husband saying, ‘this is weird, we keep circling the airport, but we’re not landing.’ I was a little anxious, and when he said, ‘no, this is serious,’ I started to panic internally,” she said.
Despite the alarming circumstances, Green commended the pilot for his professionalism and for keeping passengers informed.
“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.
Video of the B-52 bomber aircraft flying over the North Dakota State Fair. It was taken at the time of the near miss with a SkyWest Flight operating as a Delta connection between Minneapolis and Minot. The flight can be seen in the video. pic.twitter.com/hMVeS9KdD1
— KMOT (@KMOT_TV) July 21, 2025
Minot Air Force Base, located near the site of the incident, houses the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing, both of which operate strategic aircraft including B-52 bombers.
The airspace near military installations can present unique challenges for civilian flights, particularly when coordination between military and commercial air traffic is disrupted or incomplete.
SkyWest confirmed the aircraft landed safely and that the incident is under review.
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