The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration of the United States) reported that it opened an investigation after a JetBlue flight reported having collided with a drone while approaching John F. Kennedy International Airport, in New York, this Monday (29).
The pilot of the Airbus A321, which had taken off from Las Vegas, reported the collision at approximately 915 meters altitude during final approach, the FAA said.
The incident occurred at around 7:15 am local time, according to the US regulator.
“The flight landed without incident, passengers disembarked normally and the aircraft was removed from service for a post-flight inspection, which found no damage or evidence of collision,” the airline said.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which manages John F. Kennedy International Airport, was not available for comment.
This Monday’s case occurs a few days after a United Airlines flight descended to Newark Liberty International Airport, which is also in the New York region, on Friday (26), according to reports.
The Port Authority said in an email in late May that it was preparing for an increase in demand “at all of our facilities” as the New York-New Jersey region hosts matches for the 2026 World Cup, including the final on July 19.
The FBI, the US federal investigation agency, reported this Monday on the social network X that, together with federal partners, it had restricted airspace in all 11 US host cities since the start of the football tournament this month.
Drones should not fly, according to an FAA statement, which warns that it would be difficult for pilots to spot and avoid drones in flight.
The FAA reported that it receives more than 100 reports of drone sightings near airports every month. The agency warned that unauthorized drone operators could be subject to fines or prison time.
