Submitted Photo A B-52 bomber from Minot Air Force Base conducts a flyover at the North Dakota State Fair in Minot on July 18. Prior to the flyover, the B-52 and a passenger plane experienced a near-miss incident that is still under investigation. Photo from North Dakota Governor’s office.

The near-miss incident involving a B-52H from Minot Air Force Base and a passenger plane Friday, July 18, drew extensive local and national attention in 2025.

As of December, the investigation into the incident has not been completed,

“That investigation is ongoing,” said Peter Knudson of National Transportation Safety Board Media Relations in Orange County, California. He said most incident investigations are completed in six-18 months from the date of occurrence.

According to the NTSB preliminary report, the Air Force B-52H was enroute to conduct an aerial flyby at the North Dakota State Fairgrounds in Minot when it and SkyWest Airlines Flight 3788, operating as a Delta connection flight from Minneapolis, had the near-miss incident or loss of separation event, about two miles south of the Minot International Airport.

The B-52’s flyover of the State Fair was for a special event recognizing the city of Minot as a “Great American Defense Community,” honoring the city’s support for the military, according to Minot AFB Public Affairs.

NTSB’s preliminary report said the Minot AFB B-52 was following its authorized flight path as directed by air traffic control and acted in full compliance with pre-established procedures, flight plans and air traffic control instructions.

The report also confirmed the B-52’s flyover was coordinated in advance with both Minot Air Traffic Control tower and Dakota Radar Approach Control in Rapid City, South Dakota. The B-52 aircrew was cleared to proceed as instructed, maintaining its flight path until two miles west of the airport. The controller did not advise the B-52 aircrew of the inbound commercial aircraft.

According to the report, the Minot Air Traffic Control tower directed the commercial airline jet to make a right 360 degree turn away from the B-52’s flight path. The commercial pilot declined, then the controller offered a left 360 degree turn before breaking off its approach to Minot International Airport.

After the event, the commercial airline jet was vectored to a runway at the Minot airport and landed uneventfully, according to the report.

The NTSB also reported a second loss of separation between the B-52 and a civilian Piper PA-28-151 aircraft flying under Visual Flight Rules about one mile west-southwest of the Minot airport. The B-52 aircrew maintained positive visual separation with the Piper aircraft and acted in accordance with their approved flight plan. However, the controller did not notify the B-52 of the Piper’s presence.

During the week of July 28, the ATC investigative group conducted an on-site investigation and interviewed personnel at both Dakota RAPCON and Minot International Airport Traffic Control Tower, the two control facilities providing services to the B-52 and to the commercial passenger plane with SkyWest Airlines. In addition, the Minot airport traffic control tower provided services to the Piper aircraft at the time of the incident.