Commercial Jet Dodges B-52 Bomber Over North Dakota

What was supposed to be a routine regional flight turned into a tense encounter over North Dakota skies, when a Delta Connection Embraer E175 came dangerously close to a U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress. The quick reaction of the pilot—and a sharp evasive turn—prevented what could have been a catastrophic midair collision.

“Whoa—That’s Not Normal”

SkyWest Flight 3788 was en route from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, on July 18 when, during its final approach, the pilot suddenly banked the aircraft hard. Passengers noticed the sharp turn but remained mostly calm—despite some being able to see the massive bomber through the right-side windows.

Monica Green, a passenger on board, recalled the eerie calm in the cabin. “It was weirdly quiet. We all just kind of looked at each other.” When the pilot came over the intercom, she said, “He sounded like landing safely wasn’t guaranteed for a second.”

What Happened?

According to the pilot’s post-landing explanation, air traffic controllers instructed him to report at six miles out—but never mentioned military traffic in the area. After initiating a right turn, the pilot spotted a fast-moving aircraft—clearly a B-52—coming at them from the same direction. At that point, he made the decision to turn aggressively behind it, avoiding a potential disaster.

“It caught me by surprise,” the pilot admitted in cockpit audio later posted to TikTok. “Nobody told us about it… Long story short, it was not fun, and I do apologize for it.”

Questions for the Air Force

The tower directing the flight was not an FAA-controlled facility, and the FAA has not released a report but says it is gathering information. SkyWest has confirmed an investigation is underway. The Pentagon, when asked for comment, redirected questions to the airline.

The lack of coordination is raising eyebrows, particularly since Minot Air Force Base—home to 26 B-52s—has full radar capability. The pilot noted how unusual it was to receive no warning of nearby military aircraft.

A Pilot’s Calm Saves the Day

Despite the near miss, the E175 landed safely in Minot, and passengers were quick to thank the pilot not only for his flying skills but for his honesty. “I appreciated his transparency,” Green said. “It made us feel safer, knowing he wasn’t going to just brush it off.”