Delta flight crew spots drone hovering near JFK airport; FAA to investigate
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A Delta Air Lines flight from Orlando to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport reported seeing an unmanned drone dangerously close to the airplane during its Friday evening approach to one of the country's busiest airports.
Federal officials said they will investigate the reported sighting that prompted safety concerns and a warning to a following plane from controllers.
The FAA said Delta Flight 407 was about 1,400 feet off the ground when the pilot spotted the "unmanned aircraft system," MyFoxNY.com reported.
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"About a mile back, there was a drone flying just on the southwest side," the pilot told air traffic control, ABC reported.
"At what altitude?" the controller asked.
"I'd say 100 feet below us, just off the right wing," the pilot said.
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"JetBlue, use caution," the controller said, according to the station. "The one that's ahead of you reported a drone."
FAA rules do not permit unmanned objects above 400 feet due to potential of a collision with commercial aircraft.
"The reason we don't want a drone anywhere close to commercial airliners is because of the possibility of one being ingested into an engine and doing a tremendous among of damage," John Nance, an aviation analyst, told the ABC affiliate.
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The flight landed safely without having to take any evasive action. A Delta spokeswoman has not immediately responded to a request for comment.
In May, a commercial plane reportedly had to swerve upward over Brooklyn's Prospect Park in order to avoid the drone as the plane neared the airport. The incident followed several earlier instances of pilots reporting they had lasers pointed at them near New York airports.