• A Delta flight executed an aggressive maneuver to avoid a B-52 bomber over North Dakota.
• The pilot expressed surprise at the close call and apologized to passengers afterward.
• The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident.
• The Minot tower does not use radar for guidance, complicating air traffic management.
• This event follows a serious midair collision involving a US Army helicopter earlier this year.

A Delta Air Lines flight, operated by SkyWest, performed a sudden and sharp maneuver to avoid a mid-air collision with a B-52 bomber on July 18, 2025, while approaching Minot International Airport in North Dakota. The pilot described the turn as "aggressive" during an announcement to passengers, expressing that it was necessitated by the sudden appearance of the military bomber in the flight's path, a situation he termed "not normal at all" according to SCMP and Channel News Asia.

The incident occurred as Delta Flight 3788 was cleared for landing after departing from Minneapolis. However, the aircraft had to perform a go-around after the pilots saw the B-52 bomber approaching from the right side. "I don't know how fast they were going, but they were a lot faster than us," the pilot remarked, highlighting the close proximity of the two aircraft, as detailed by LA Times and Channel News Asia.

In the aftermath of the incident, which comes in the wake of increased scrutiny on US air safety, the Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed it is investigating the circumstances. Both the pilot and the airline expressed frustrations over insufficient communication from air traffic control, particularly as the Minot tower is noted for not using radar, a common practice in several small airfields in the US. This procedural gap led to the near-miss situation, as described in detail by SCMP and LA Times.

This close call follows another serious incident earlier in the year, when a US Army helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Washington D.C., leading to an urgent review of coordination protocols between military and civilian aircraft. The Air Force corroborated that a B-52 was conducting a flyover during a local event, indicating complexity in sharing airspace, as reported by LA Times and Channel News Asia.