Narrative:

While in cruise flight at 16000 ft between brigs and avalo intxns, experienced an near midair collision with a flight of 2 F16's. Sequence of events: controller was about to hand us off (ZNY to ZDC) but told us to 'hang on a second.' almost immediately, got 'traffic, traffic' from TCASII, followed by 'descend, descend.' we immediately initiated evasive maneuvers and descended about 500 ft when first F16 passed us. Second F16 was behind first by less than 1 mi, and we passed less than approximately 300 ft horizontally and 500 ft vertically second F16. We then returned to 16000 ft. Controller said they were VFR and had just popped up. Controller had not warned us of them prior to the incident. Handed off to ZDC. Called ZDC and ZNY after landing. Were told that an investigation would be initiated into the incident. I would like to hear the results of that investigation. Were told that F16's originated at atlantic city and were en route to the yankee block. This is one of the busiest airways in the country and better separation between military and civilian aircraft must be assured. The second F16 passed us very close. We could clearly see aircraft pass at high speed with afterburner lit. Without TCASII, strong possibility of midair collision would have existed.

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Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: AN EMBRAER JET CREW EXPERIENCED AN NMAC WITH A FLT OF 2 F16'S FOLLOWING A TCASII RA.

Narrative: WHILE IN CRUISE FLT AT 16000 FT BTWN BRIGS AND AVALO INTXNS, EXPERIENCED AN NMAC WITH A FLT OF 2 F16'S. SEQUENCE OF EVENTS: CTLR WAS ABOUT TO HAND US OFF (ZNY TO ZDC) BUT TOLD US TO 'HANG ON A SECOND.' ALMOST IMMEDIATELY, GOT 'TFC, TFC' FROM TCASII, FOLLOWED BY 'DSND, DSND.' WE IMMEDIATELY INITIATED EVASIVE MANEUVERS AND DSNDED ABOUT 500 FT WHEN FIRST F16 PASSED US. SECOND F16 WAS BEHIND FIRST BY LESS THAN 1 MI, AND WE PASSED LESS THAN APPROX 300 FT HORIZLY AND 500 FT VERTLY SECOND F16. WE THEN RETURNED TO 16000 FT. CTLR SAID THEY WERE VFR AND HAD JUST POPPED UP. CTLR HAD NOT WARNED US OF THEM PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. HANDED OFF TO ZDC. CALLED ZDC AND ZNY AFTER LNDG. WERE TOLD THAT AN INVESTIGATION WOULD BE INITIATED INTO THE INCIDENT. I WOULD LIKE TO HEAR THE RESULTS OF THAT INVESTIGATION. WERE TOLD THAT F16'S ORIGINATED AT ATLANTIC CITY AND WERE ENRTE TO THE YANKEE BLOCK. THIS IS ONE OF THE BUSIEST AIRWAYS IN THE COUNTRY AND BETTER SEPARATION BTWN MIL AND CIVILIAN ACFT MUST BE ASSURED. THE SECOND F16 PASSED US VERY CLOSE. WE COULD CLRLY SEE ACFT PASS AT HIGH SPD WITH AFTERBURNER LIT. WITHOUT TCASII, STRONG POSSIBILITY OF MIDAIR COLLISION WOULD HAVE EXISTED.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.