00:00The Ministry of Foreign and Caricom Affairs says approval has been granted for the United States military aircraft to transit Trinidad and Tobago's airports in the coming weeks.
00:11In a statement issued this morning, the ministry said U.S. authorities advised that the movements are logistical in nature, facilitating supply replenishment and routine personnel rotations.
00:22Foreign and Caricom Affairs Minister Sean Sobers reaffirmed the government's commitment to sustained cooperation with the United States in advancing regional safety, security and stability.
00:35He noted that the ministry maintains close engagement with the U.S. Embassy in Trinidad and Tobago and said Prime Minister Kamala Pesad-Besasa has endorsed continued collaboration in the interest of national and regional security.
00:50Sobers said the partnership has allowed TNT to benefit from joint military training exercises, enhanced surveillance capabilities, including the installation of an effective radar system and coordinated efforts that have led to the interdiction of millions of dollars worth of illegal narcotics.
01:10He added the U.S. Embassy has also supported national development through educational initiatives, including school equipment donations and infrastructure enhancement projects.
01:22The statement comes amid reports of a near mid-air incident involving a JetBlue flight from Curaçao en route to New York on Friday.
01:31According to recordings of air traffic control communications, the JetBlue pilot reported halting the aircraft's climb to avoid a collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker.
01:44We just had traffic pass directly in front of us within five miles of us, maybe two, three miles, but it was a air-to-air refueler from the United States Air Force and he was at our altitude.
01:54We had to stop our climb.
01:57In a subsequent transmission, the pilot claimed the military aircraft crossed directly into its flight path and did not have its transponder activated.
02:08They passed directly in our flight path.
02:10We had to stop our climb.
02:12They are not painting.
02:13They don't have their transponder turned on.
02:16It's outrageous.
02:17The incident involved JetBlue flight 1112, which departed Curaçao off the coast of Venezuela, bound for New York's JFK airport.
02:29Air traffic control later confirmed the military aircraft also did not appear on its radar at the time.
02:37We almost had a mid-air collision up here.
02:38The reported incident comes as the U.S. military has increased drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean and intensified pressure on Venezuela's government.
02:49JetBlue says it has reported the matter to federal aviation authorities for investigation.
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