Passengers aboard SkyWest Flight 3788 experienced a harrowing moment when the pilot had to abort landing to dodge a military aircraft encountered on a converging flight path. The pilot's swift actions ensured safety, despite the unexpected turn that caused a significant scare.
SkyWest Flight Near Miss: Pilot's Quick Thinking Averts Collision
SkyWest Flight Near Miss: Pilot's Quick Thinking Averts Collision
A SkyWest pilot executed a daring maneuver to avoid a midair collision with a military aircraft near Minot, North Dakota, prompting both concern and admiration from passengers.
In an unsettling incident last week, SkyWest Airlines revealed that one of its flights aborted landing due to the presence of another aircraft in its path. Passengers on SkyWest Flight 3788 from Minneapolis to Minot, North Dakota, were left shaken but safe after the pilot executed a notably abrupt maneuver to avoid what he described as a military aircraft.
After successfully landing at Minot International Airport last Friday, the pilot addressed the passengers, acknowledging the urgency of the situation. “Sorry about the aggressive maneuver,” he stated in a recording captured by a passenger, Monica Green, who was seated up front during the flight. “It caught me by surprise. This is not normal at all.”
Green recounted the moment of panic when the plane swerved sharply to the right as they approached landing. The sudden movement forced her gaze away from the sky, making her instead look at the expansive cornfields below. “My plane keeps circling and not landing,” she texted her husband amid the unfolding drama, as anticipation grew among those aboard.
Upon learning that the sharp turn was to prevent a collision with a military aircraft, Green described the atmosphere in the cabin as eerily calm. Many passengers applauded the pilot after he detailed the near-miss situation, revealing a mix of relief and gratitude among them.
SkyWest's timely response, aided by the pilot's quick thinking and adept handling of the aircraft, prevented what could have been a disastrous outcome in the skies over North Dakota, drawing attention to ongoing concerns regarding flight safety and military aircraft operations near civilian airways.
