Pilot Tells Passengers He Just Avoided a Mid-Air Collision During Flight to North Dakota
The aircraft came dangerously close to a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber.
A Delta pilot made an alarming but honest announcement mid-flight, revealing to passengers that they had narrowly avoided a serious in-air collision.
The incident took place on July 18 as the commercial flight was preparing to land near Minot, North Dakota. During the approach, the aircraft came dangerously close to a U.S. Air Force B-52 bomber, prompting the pilot to make a quick and decisive maneuver to avoid a possible disaster.
Following the maneuver, the pilot addressed the cabin and explained exactly what had just happened.
“In front of you on the right-hand side, you probably saw the airplane sort of coming at us. Nobody told us about it, and so we continued,” the pilot said during the announcement.
According to his message, the airport lacked radar support, meaning the crew had to rely heavily on visuals and air traffic control instructions.
“I looked over and saw the airplane that was kind of coming on a converging course with us. So, given his speed, it was a military [plane]. 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,” he explained.
A Delta pilot made an alarming but honest announcement mid-flight, revealing to passengers that they had narrowly avoided a serious in-air collision.
The pilot went on to acknowledge the abrupt nature of the maneuver, adding, “So sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all. Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologise for it.”
The go-around he executed—commonly used when an approach must be aborted for safety reasons—was described by the pilot as “aggressive.” While unsettling for passengers, the quick action likely prevented a much more dangerous outcome.
The story gained traction online after a video of the announcement was shared on social media. Comments quickly flooded in with praise and support for the pilot’s calm under pressure.
One Instagram user wrote, “Pilot literally saved the lives of everyone on board. Well done and well explained.”
Another added, “Thank god the air pilot knows how to make an executive decision!!! He saved them all.”
A third commenter showed empathy for the weight of the situation, writing, “My heart goes out to the pilot. That is too much pressure.”
A Delta pilot made an alarming but honest announcement mid-flight, revealing to passengers that they had narrowly avoided a serious in-air collision.
At this time, Delta Airlines and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have not issued formal statements about the event, and it’s not yet clear why the military aircraft and the commercial plane were on potentially intersecting flight paths. However, the pilot's transparency and ability to act swiftly in the moment have earned him wide admiration from passengers and the public alike.
This incident serves as a reminder of the critical decisions commercial pilots must sometimes make with little to no warning—and the training that enables them to do so calmly and effectively.