On Monday morning, a JetBlue pilot reported a potential drone encounter while preparing to land. The incident occurred as Flight 948 was nearing John F. Kennedy International Airport after taking off from Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
“While making a turn, I collided with the drone,” the pilot said in audio recordings shared by LiveATC.
“You said there was a collision, right?” the air traffic controller inquired.
“Yes, it’s right above the cockpit,” the pilot confirmed.
This reported encounter happened as the aircraft was beginning its final descent at around 3,000 feet, approximately 10 to 12 miles from the airport. The pilot specified that the incident was near a navigational waypoint called ASALT, which is typically where planes line up for landing.
Interestingly, the pilot noted that the drone was circling towards ASALT, around 12 to 16 miles away while they were traversing over New Jersey.
When controllers offered assistance, the crew declined, stating, “We don’t need any help, just go ahead and land.” The controller acknowledged this with a simple, “Thank you, Roger.”
At the end, the pilot added, “I’m sorry, but I can’t give you any further details.”
JetBlue reported that the flight landed safely and passengers disembarked as usual. A post-flight inspection showed no damage to the aircraft. In a statement, the airline emphasized that safety is their top priority and stated their intention to cooperate with any investigations that may follow. The FAA confirmed that they would be looking into the matter.
