Near-Miss Incident Between Delta Connection Flight and B-52 Bomber

An alarming situation unfolded on a Delta Connection flight that was en route from Minneapolis-Saint Paul to Minot International Airport when the pilot was required to carry out a quick evasive maneuver to avert a potential mid-air collision with a US Air Force B-52 bomber. The aircraft, operated by SkyWest Airlines under Delta's connection services, narrowly missed colliding with the military plane during its 90-minute flight, which left passengers and crew members visibly shaken yet calm as they went through a series of sharp banking actions.

Passenger Monica Green shared her experience, reflecting on how strange it felt in the cabin while the plane executed the sudden turns. She mentioned that the pilot addressed the passengers through the intercom, expressing regret and stating that an explanation would follow once they had landed safely, which added to the gravity of the moment. Despite the unsettling nature of the incident, Green praised the pilot for his prompt actions and the detailed explanation he provided afterward, revealing that she sensed his stress during the entire episode.

The captain later informed passengers that Air Traffic Control had instructed him to change the airplane's course due to inadequate distance from another aircraft, noting a lack of prior notification about military operations nearby, which was unusual given Minot Air Force Base's radar capabilities. After successfully landing the aircraft without any complications, the passengers expressed their gratitude to the captain for his transparency throughout the flight. SkyWest Airlines confirmed they are investigating the matter following the event involving flight 3788, which safely reached its destination.