Carlin is ignorant. The OED lists usage of 'near miss' going back to 1940 in a maritime context. It was not made up by the airlines. Even if it was, the phrase still makes sense. It's not 'nearly missed', it's 'a miss where the objects were near'.
Have you ever heard the phrase 'it's funny because it's true'? Well this isn't true, so I don't see Carlin as funny. He's just ignorant and angry.
Have you ever heard the phrase 'it's funny because it's true'? Well this isn't true, so I don't see Carlin as funny. He's just ignorant and angry.