A JetBlue Airways pilot narrowly escaped a midair crash with a US military plane while climbing after takeoff from Curaçao. The pilot told air traffic control he stopped climbing because a US Air Force refueler appeared "directly in front" and "within five miles" on the same altitude. The military aircraft was heading to Venezuelan airspace and had its transponder turned off, making it invisible to controllers. "We almost had a midair collision up here," the pilot said on the recording. "They passed directly in our flight path ... They don’t have their transponder turned on; it’s outrageous." JetBlue said its crew follows proper procedures and reported the incident to federal authorities. The flight, JetBlue 1112, was on its way to New York City’s JFK Airport. The US Southern Command confirmed they are reviewing the incident and said, "Military aircrews are highly trained professionals who operate in accordance with established procedures." The Federal Aviation Administration said it does not control air traffic around Curaçao and referred inquiries to the local aviation authority, which has not yet commented. Meanwhile, a Notice to Air Missions (NOTAM) warns pilots to use "extreme caution" in Curaçao’s airspace due to "non-identified aircraft operations."