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A U.S. Air Force refueling tanker flew uncomfortably close on Friday, flying through the path of a JetBlue Airways flight near Venezuelan airspace.
JetBlue flight 1112 departed Hato International Airport (CUR) in Curaçao, a Dutch Caribbean island just off the Venezuelan coast, at 4:40 p.m. AST, and was bound to land at New York's John F Kennedy International Airport (JFK) at 8:21 p.m. EST.
An hour into the flight, the Airbus A320 halted its climb after the military aircraft entered its flight path at the same altitude.
"Sir, we just had traffic pass directly in front of us, within 5 miles of us, maybe 2-3 miles. But, it was an air-to-air refueler from the United States Air Force," the pilot is heard saying in an ATC recording to Curaçao air traffic control. "And he was at our altitude. We had to stop our climb."
The pilot informed ATC that the military aircraft was heading northeast and expressed frustration that the plane was not broadcasting its position via transponder, a key safety tool used by civilian and most military aircraft to aid traffic avoidance.
"They are not painting. They don't have their transponder turned on. It's outrageous," the pilot said.
Air traffic control told the crew it could not locate the military aircraft on radar because the transponder was not transmitting. The pilot asked ATC to make a note of the incident.
"We almost had a midair collision up here", the pilot said in the recording.
Military planes are allowed to turn off their transponders for national security, intelligence or specific mission needs.
In response to an ABC News query, U.S. Southern Command said it was aware of reports about U.S. military aircraft operations in the region and is reviewing the matter.
"Military aircrews are highly trained professionals," the command stated. "Safety remains a top priority, and we are working through the appropriate channels to assess the facts."
A JetBlue spokesperson said the airline reported the incident to federal authorities and would cooperate with any investigation. The airline added that its crews are trained to handle unexpected flight situations and follow proper procedures, according to ABC News.
Earlier this month, the FAA ordered U.S. operators to exercise caution when flying in or near Venezuelan airspace, citing increased security and military activity.
The warning came as the Trump administration ramps up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The U.S. military has been sending bomber flights up to the coast of Venezuela, according to the Associated Press.