A near-disastrous incident unfolded in North Dakota on Friday when a SkyWest-operated Delta flight was forced to abort its landing due to the sudden presence of a B-52 bomber in its flight path. The commercial aircraft, Delta Flight 3788, had been approaching Minot International Airport after flying in from Minneapolis when the pilot made an abrupt go-around maneuver to avoid a possible collision with the military aircraft. The move, described as “aggressive” by the pilot, was made moments after air traffic control had cleared the plane for its final approach.
SkyWest confirmed the sequence of events in a statement, noting that the pilot decided to abandon the landing “when another aircraft became visible in their flight path.” The pilot quickly identified the approaching aircraft as a B-52 bomber, which the U.S. Air Force later confirmed had been conducting a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair on the same evening. The bomber was assigned to nearby Minot Air Force Base.
Despite the sudden maneuver, the SkyWest flight landed safely in Minot, with no injuries reported. SkyWest is currently investigating the incident.
Pilot and Passengers React to Frightening Close Call
Video footage shared on social media and verified by NBC News captured the immediate aftermath inside the cabin. The pilot is seen addressing passengers, explaining what occurred and apologizing for the sudden swerve. “So, sorry about the aggressive maneuver. It caught me by surprise,” the pilot says. “This is not normal at all. I don’t know why they didn’t give us a heads up.” He explained that initial instructions were to turn right, but upon spotting the B-52, he was told to adjust left — only to then find the bomber on a converging course with the commercial plane. With no time to spare, he made the decision to turn behind the bomber to avoid a collision.
“Long story short, it was not fun, but I do apologize for it, and thank you for understanding,” the pilot concluded. Passengers can be seen applauding his calm and decisive handling of the emergency.
One passenger, Monica Green, who recorded the moment, described the incident as terrifying. “I was so sick to my stomach that that was so close to happening,” she said. Green recalled feeling the plane jolt and take a sharp turn, adding, “I just remember the plane going, like, sideways … and just looking straight out the window and just seeing grass, like you weren’t seeing the skyline anymore.” The experience has left her shaken and uneasy about her return flight from Minot.
