A JetBlue Airways passenger aircraft safely landed at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport after its pilot reported a suspected drone strike during the final stages of its approach.
According to CNN, the pilot of JetBlue Flight 948 reported the incident at around 3,000 feet shortly before landing at approximately 7:15 AM local time on Monday.
In air traffic control audio obtained by ATC.com and reported by CNN, the pilot said: “We are clear to land, 13 left. Just quickly, I couldn’t talk to approach, but we collided with a drone back there in the turn.”
After the controller asked, “You said you collided?”, the pilot replied: “Yep, it hit us right, right above the cockpit.”
The Airbus A321, travelling from Las Vegas, landed safely at 7:21 AM. JetBlue said passengers disembarked normally and the aircraft was removed from service for inspection.
The airline said the inspection “found no damage or evidence of a collision” and added it would assist with the investigation.
The Federal Aviation Administration is now investigating the reported incident.
If confirmed, it could be among the first known collisions between a drone and a US commercial passenger aircraft.
According to CNN, drones are banned from operating near airports, although the FAA receives about 100 drone sighting reports each month. Unauthorised drone operators can face heavy fines and criminal charges.
