A potentially disastrous in-air collision was narrowly averted on July 18 due to the quick reaction and good judgment of a Delta flight pilot who performed a go-around after seeing a B-52 bomber in the path of the plane’s approach.
The Delta Connection Flight 3788, operated by SkyWest, was on a final descent at Minot International Airport after flying from Minneapolis when the pilot banked the plane hard back up into the air to avoid the military plane. The sudden move was drastic, yet all the passengers on board were kept safe.
Upon arrival, the pilot spoke with the cabin crew and described the emergency maneuver.
“With his pace. I don’t know how fast they were moving, but a heck of a lot quicker than us, I thought it was the best thing to do to turn behind it,” the pilot stated, as transcribed in an in-flight announcement confirmed by NBC News.
He went on to say, “So sorry about the aggressive turn, it surprised me, this is not right at all. I have no idea why they didn’t warn us, because the Air Force base does have radar. Short story long, it wasn’t a good time, but I do apologize for it, and thank you for being understanding. Not a good day at work.”
What Is a Go-Around Maneuver?
The go-around is a routine safety maneuver in aviation. It is done when a pilot decides it is not safe to continue landing. A go-around, according to the leading Franco-Italian airplane manufacturer, ATR, enables the plane to climb again into the air for the second approach or divert to an alternative airport.
ATR states that the maneuver can be started at any time during the landing phase up to when the weight of the aircraft rests on the landing gear. It is an integral aspect of flight safety control and is conducted regularly to ensure pilot familiarity.
Military Involvement and Continuing Investigations
Minot is the site of a large Air Force base, which has frequent flyovers by B-52 bombers. Although the actual distance of separation between the commercial airplane and the bomber cannot be determined, there are concerns about airspace coordination and radar communication between the FAA and the military.
An Air Force spokesperson stated, We know of the recent stories about commercial and Air Force planes flying in airspace over Minot International Airport. We’re investigating it right now. We can verify that a B-52 crew out of Minot AFB performed a flyby of the North Dakota State Fair Friday night.”
SkyWest Airlines also verified the incident and the pilot’s procedure to go around.
“SkyWest flight 3788, doing business as Delta Connection from Minneapolis, Minnesota to Minot, North Dakota, made a safe landing in Minot after receiving clearance for approach by the tower but executed a go-around when another plane came into view along their line of flight. We are looking into the incident,” a spokesperson for SkyWest said.
Both the U.S. Air Force and Federal Aviation Administration are said to be investigating how the B-52 incursion in controlled airspace was uncoordinated, casting a wider question over civil-military aviation protocols.
