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A B-52 bomber narrowly avoided collisions with two different aircraft near Minot, North Dakota, last month, according to a preliminary report by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The incident occurred on July 19, following a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair.
Initially, a SkyWest commercial airliner had to make an "aggressive maneuver" to avoid the bomber. The pilot of Delta Flight 3788, operated by SkyWest, described the maneuver as surprising, captured in a video by a passenger. The airliner and the B-52 came within 1.25 miles of each other.
Shortly after, the B-52 came within 0.33 miles of a privately operated Piper PA-28-151 light aircraft. This second close call was not previously reported. The NTSB's report highlights confusion in communication between the air traffic controller and the aircraft involved, as noted by aviation safety consultant Jeff Guzzetti.
The Air Force stated that the B-52's flyover was approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), but the tower did not inform the bomber crew about the nearby airliner. The air traffic control tower at Minot was handling normal traffic levels with one controller on duty, who had to coordinate with a regional FAA controller in Rapid City, South Dakota.
Despite these close calls, all aircraft landed safely. The NTSB plans to release a final report on the incident next year, which may provide further insights into the causes and potential safety improvements needed at small airports like Minot.