A JetBlue pilot reported colliding with a drone while attempting to land at John F Kennedy International Airport in New York this past weekend. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) launched an investigation into the incident but stated that no damage was found on the aircraft.
Incident Details
A JetBlue spokesperson confirmed the reported collision, stating: 'The flight landed without incident, customers deplaned normally, and the plane was removed from service for a post-flight inspection, which found no damage or evidence of a collision.'
The encounter occurred just days after another near-miss at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. On Friday, a United Airlines Boeing 737 was approaching the runway at Newark around 4:20 p.m. local time (9:20 p.m. BST) when it flew over a drone, according to the FAA.
Pilot Reports
In a call to air traffic control, the pilot of the United flight said: 'We almost hit a drone,' adding that the drone was only 'about 100 feet below us.' The aircraft was carrying 106 passengers from Key West, Florida, and had five crew members on board.
United Airlines issued a statement saying: 'United flight 1513 reported a potential drone sighting prior to arriving in Newark. The flight landed safely, and customers deplaned normally at the gate.'
In a separate call, another pilot flying into Newark reported seeing the drone flying at around 2,000 feet.
Frequency of Drone Sightings
More than 100 drone sightings near airports are reported to the FAA every month. Flying a drone in controlled airspace without authorisation is illegal in the United States and can be punishable with jail time.
In the United Kingdom, drone flying is banned within five kilometres of an airport, a rule that has been in place since March 2019 when the size of 'no-fly zones' around airports was increased.
Then-aviation minister Liz Sugg said: 'Flying drones illegally puts others at risk both in the air and on the ground, so it's vital they are used safely. The majority of people using drones want to do so responsibly, so we have expanded a national campaign to ensure they know the rules – and the penalties.'
