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Pilot narrowly avoids ‘midair collision’ with US air force plane near Venezuela
(www.theguardian.com)
this post was submitted on 14 Dec 2025
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Nothing will happen because it's US military, but shame on those pilots because you know THEY saw the JetBlue coming their way, knew the route they'd take, and didn't give a shit. They didn't even have to say anything, just change course.
The US military has had many incidents where it was sloppy as shit. I wouldn't completely write off the idea that they might just be a lot more incompetent than most people think.
That's comforting that they could be that way and be running silent from ATC and other aircraft anywhere. What could go wrong?
It's not just US aircraft. Most military aircraft have the ability to turn off their transponders. That's kinda SOP when flying a mission.
The main difference with many US military aircraft is that they have a tiny radar cross sections, so ATC can't "see" them, not just can't "hear" them. That refuling plane should have shown on radar, transponder or not. That thing is literally about the size of three barns, not the nuclear physics kind, and literally can't have much in the way of radar stealth the way the plane it was refueling probably had.
The other main difference here is that normally our joint chiefs, and secretary of defense ~~war~~ don't have their head up their asses about OPSEC. Normally such an operation would have not come anywhere near civilian flight paths, but these assholes literally said that the troops should be "drawing fire."
Civilian aircraft can also turn off their transponders, not that it's relevant.
ATC not having radar is not an issue, the US military most certainly had multiple radars in range. They could tell the tanker to divert way earlier. They wanted an incident.
As for normalcy, the US is part of a small group of countries that has shot down civilian airliners.
Most of the world doesn’t have decent primary radar, especially out over international waters like where this occurred. Likely just a low frequency radar that can say “yup, there’s something out there” but not “he is right there.” The world works on transponders.
Right. I actually don't have an issue with them not having a transponder on. That was the least of the problems. But not being aware of standard traffic around an airport... come on.
What's the average age of a military pilot
Knowing America...if I had to guess...probably not old enough to rent a car.
Well they have to be officers so, at bare minimum you're probably looking at 21 if the pilot in question went through ROTC, and performed well enough academically to gain some grants or scholarships privately, and use the GI bill through the Air Force, or Navy. I really don't remember if you can rent a car at 21, 23, or 25.
I would wager the average age of our pilots is probably closer to 24 or 25 than 21, maybe even closer to 29. Once you get that job, they tend to retire. Either early at a minimum of 12 years with limited pension, or at 20 years with a full pension. There really aren't a lot of engagements in the air for us.
Technically 18 to rent a car, some states have it up to 21 I think, but most rental companies charge so much for under 25 it’s barely worth it.
I think that may have changed since I was that age. I remember trying to rent a car as a 20 year old, and being told that I was too young. Thankfully, I was able to borrow a car from a mate, and return it refuled and cleaned.
Or maybe Kentucky is the wrong state to rent a car in as a new adult.
Kentucky might be 21 minimum to rent a car. I know New York was as well.