United States: In a jolting brush with airborne peril, a Delta regional jet—operated by SkyWest Airlines as Flight 3788—executed a sharp aerial redirection last Friday to sidestep an approaching US Air Force B-52 Stratofortress. Audio recordings captured the pilot candidly addressing the unnerving moment to his passengers mid-flight.

The aircraft had departed from Minneapolis, Minnesota, charting a course for Minot, North Dakota. SkyWest’s official communication noted the jet was already cleared to land by local tower control when the unexpected silhouette of another aircraft breached its designated trajectory, triggering a rapid go-around.

“The aircraft became visible in our path after we were already cleared,” their statement outlined. The landing was ultimately completed without physical mishap, though emotionally, the journey had already taken a hairpin turn.

An inquiry is now underway within SkyWest, as the involved tower wasn’t under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) jurisdiction, meaning no direct FAA oversight was present during the incident. Still, the FAA has initiated steps to gather more clarity, according to CNN.

A TikTok video, capturing cockpit audio, surfaced shortly after the event. In it, the pilot is heard outlining the encounter. “It was kind of, sort of, barreling toward us,” he says, his tone balancing disbelief and control. He added, “Nobody mentioned its presence.”

According to his account, air traffic control initially instructed him to report once six miles from the runway. Upon approaching, he veered right—but then noticed the military plane looming on that side. The controller promptly countered, suggesting a leftward pivot.

“It was clearly military—probably a B-52. Whatever it was, it was bolting way faster than us,” he remarked. “My gut said best to trail behind it rather than challenge fate.”

In the end, the pilot offered a heartfelt apology to those on board for what he dubbed an “aggressive maneuver,” admitting it was as unexpected for him as it was for his passengers. “Caught me completely off guard,” he stated. “Long story short—it wasn’t enjoyable. I truly apologize and thank you for bearing with us.”

The cabin reportedly erupted into applause after his message—relief cloaked in gratitude.

CNN reached out to both the Pentagon and Delta Air Lines regarding the incident, but both directed inquiries back to SkyWest.

One passenger, Monica Green, recounted to CNN the eerie moment just before descent when the aircraft lunged sharply—“almost like we did a U-turn,” she said. The pilot’s calm voice followed, promising clarity after a safe landing, as reported by CNN.

“I travel constantly for work, but this? This was unmatched,” Green shared. “Still, I appreciated the pilot’s honesty. He didn’t keep us in the dark—he told us the truth. That gave me comfort.”

The B-52 Stratofortress, a formidable relic of American air power, is capable of flying at high subsonic velocities and altitudes nearing 50,000 feet. It boasts long-range capability and can carry both nuclear and precision-guided weapons across global theaters of operation.