This pilot’s quick thinking likely saved lives…
The pilot of a SkyWest Airlines flight operated by Delta Air Lines was forced to perform an “aggressive maneuver” to avoid a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber Friday, and explained the frightening incident to passengers in audio that quickly went viral on social media.
The incident occurred as the flight was carrying passengers from Minneapolis to Minot, N.D. The Embraer E175 jet was flying close to a B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base when the pilot took the evasive action. The flight then circled Minot International Airport several times before landing.
“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 spokesperson for SkyWest said in a statement to FOX Business.
“We are investigating the incident,” the spokesperson added.
A video posted on social media appeared to include audio of the pilot explaining what happened to passengers.
Watch:
“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 said in the video that has now gone viral.
“So sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise,” he continued. “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.”
Minot Air Force Base is home to the 5th Bomb Wing and 91st Missile Wing, as well as several U.S. Air Force equipment and vehicles, including B-52 bombers.
They leave the tarmac then crash somewhere! Believe it or not we all talk about how UNSAFE FLYING IS THESE DAYS that many, many of us are now just driving or taking the train to get to our destinations due to the large amount of problems with airplanes and with how many keep FALLING FROM THE SKY and guess what, there goes 250 people to their frightening untimely deaths. Betcha that brings a big smile to the depopulators like Mr. G who probably are thankful to the airlines for whacking 250 human lives in just a few seconds.