US Military Aircraft Encounter Near Midair Collision in Venezuelan Airspace

A US Air Force aerial refueling tanker was involved in a near midair collision with a business jet near Venezuelan airspace on December 13, 2025. The tanker was operating without a transponder, and the crew of the business jet reported the encounter to air traffic controllers in Curaçao. The incident occurred in airspace near Curaçao, part of the Netherlands, and the tanker was later identified as a KC-46 or KC-135. The business jet was able to clear the conflict and continue to Miami without incident. The Federal Aviation Administration issued an advisory last month warning US airlines of heightened military activity near Venezuela, cautioning that threats could pose risks to aircraft at all altitudes.