Air Safety Incidents Near JFK Airport
A helicopter pilot reported a close call with a large radio-controlled airplane near John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday afternoon. This incident, captured by air traffic control audio, was the second safety scare at the airport that day.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the pilot flying near JFK saw a remotely controlled aircraft come dangerously close. Just a few hours earlier, a JetBlue pilot had reported what appeared to be a drone attack as the plane prepared to land at the same airport.
Audio from air traffic control indicates that the helicopter pilot communicated the near miss while flying north of Floyd Bennett Field. When questioned if the aircraft resembled a drone, the pilot clarified, “It’s just a radio-controlled, one of those remote control airplanes, a big plane at 500 feet.”
Earlier in the day, the JetBlue flight made headlines after the pilot warned controllers about a possible drone collision during its approach to JFK. According to the FAA, they have been notified about the concerns and are looking into the incidents.
In a warning issued to nearby pilots, JFK Air Traffic Control identified an unauthorized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) in restricted airspace. The radio-controlled plane was said to be flying around 4:05 p.m. local time, at an altitude of 500 feet, dangerously close to the flight paths of commercial aircraft.
Notably, the craft was spotted about one mile from the Canarsie (CRI) navigation beacon, an essential point for planes aligning for landing at JFK.
The helicopter pilot reported seeing several aircraft on the ground, seemingly preparing to take off from a radio-controlled airfield near Floyd Bennett Field. Air traffic controllers stated they would inform NYPD Aviation to investigate further.
When asked if the plane hit his helicopter, the pilot responded, “No, I just missed it, but it didn’t hit me or anything.”
As for the earlier reported drone attack involving the JetBlue plane, officials haven’t confirmed whether there’s any link between the two events. The FAA has stressed that flying remote-controlled aircraft or drones near major airports is illegal and poses significant safety risks.
Earlier, the FAA stated that a JetBlue plane had collided with a drone at about 3,000 feet, roughly 16 miles from JFK Airport, early on Monday morning. Audio recordings indicated that an object appeared to strike near the cockpit. Fortunately, JetBlue confirmed that the plane landed safely, with a post-flight inspection revealing no damage.
The FAA continues to investigate the reported incident involving the JetBlue flight. It seems there are pressing concerns surrounding aircraft safety in this busy airspace.
