A Delta Connection flight carrying passengers over North Dakota nearly collided with a US Air Force B-52 bomber on Saturday night, forcing the quick-thinking pilot to execute an “aggressive” evasive manoeuvre midair. The Embraer E175, operated by SkyWest Airlines, was on its final approach to Minot International Airport when the massive bomber came into view, triggering what one passenger described as “a really hard turn.” The near-disaster occurred during a routine 90-minute flight from Minneapolis–Saint Paul to Minot. According to Aviation A2Z, the military aircraft was a B-52 Stratofortress from Minot Air Force Base, and did not communicate in advance to the commercial crew. The encounter, described as dangerously close, was visible to passengers on the jet’s right-hand side, who reportedly saw the bomber pass within dangerously close range of their aircraft. Pilot Informed Of ‘Inadequate Separation’ Moments Before Close Call Passenger Monica Green, speaking to KFYR TV, recounted the unnerving atmosphere on board, saying, “I felt like I was gaslighting myself, like maybe I was being crazy, because no one else was reacting.” According to Green, the cabin was gripped by a surreal calm as the pilot came over the intercom to apologise, promising to explain the situation after a safe landing — a message that, to her, hinted at how close they had come to catastrophe. “He was very casual, if you can be casual about something like that,” Green added. “But you could tell he was stressed. He was almost shaking, trying to find the right words, but he was nice and detailed.” Once the jet landed safely, the pilot reportedly gave a full account of what transpired. According to Green and other passengers, he explained that air traffic control had warned of “inadequate separation” from a preceding aircraft, but did not alert them to any military traffic. The pilot noted that Minot Air Force Base has advanced radar systems, making the absence of such a warning highly irregular. Minot AFB Hosts 26 B-52 Bombers; Investigation Into Incident Now Underway SkyWest Airlines later confirmed the nature of the evasive action, issuing a statement to the New York Post on Sunday: “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. We are investigating the incident.” Minot Air Force Base is home to the 5th Bomb Wing and the 91st Missile Wing, both of which oversee a sizeable strategic arsenal, including 26 B-52 bombers. Despite the proximity of both military and civilian flight paths in the region, the commercial pilot reported receiving no warning about nearby military flight operations at the time of the near miss. The incident has raised questions about coordination between military airspace users and civilian controllers, especially in areas around dual-use air corridors. Though no injuries were reported, passengers hailed the pilot as a hero for maintaining transparency and taking decisive action in the face of an unfolding crisis in the sky. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and SkyWest are now expected to conduct parallel investigations to determine whether protocols were breached and how such a close call occurred in controlled airspace. Get Latest News Live on Times Now along with Breaking News and Top Headlines from US News and around the World.