A JetBlue Airways pilot reported encountering a drone while making a descent toward John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) Monday morning, as confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
According to the FAA, the pilot of JetBlue Flight 948, which was traveling from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) in Las Vegas, reported the drone collision at approximately 3,000 feet in the air. This occurred at about 7:15 a.m. EDT during the plane’s final approach to JFK.
The FAA is currently looking into the matter but stated that an inspection conducted after the flight did not indicate any damage to the aircraft from the drone.
Flight records from FlightAware show that the flight departed Las Vegas at 11:51 p.m. PDT and successfully landed at JFK by 7:25 a.m. EDT, a full 39 minutes ahead of schedule. JetBlue confirmed that the landing went smoothly and passengers exited the plane without any issues.
“Ensuring safety is our foremost concern, and we will participate fully in any subsequent investigations,” JetBlue assured in their statement.
Audio shared by @turbinetraveler on social platform X captured the pilot informing an air traffic controller of the incident.
“Just quickly, I couldn’t talk to approach, but we collided with a drone back there in the turn,” the pilot said after the controller cleared him to land on runway 13 left.
When the controller asked the pilot to confirm what he said, the latter added that the drone “hit us right above the cockpit.”
The pilot later said the plane was roughly 10 to 12 miles from JFK, located in Queens, New York, when the incident occurred. When the controller asked the pilot if he needed any assistance, he said no.
The incident came just three days after the crew of United Airlines Flight 1513 reported a drone sighting while on approach to Newark Liberty International Airport, according to the FAA. The United flight landed safely at the airport in New Jersey, and the FAA is investigating the incident.
The FAA said Monday it receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, despite the fact that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters and airports is illegal.
Unauthorized operators face stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time, according to the FAA. The agency noted it is legal to fly a drone under 400 feet in “most locations,” with exceptions for the airspace around airports.