JetBlue Pilot Says Plane Has Collided With Drone at Major Airport

Kevin Carter / Kevin Carter/Getty ImagesA JetBlue Airways flight from Las Vegas collided with a drone during its descent into John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City on Monday, according to the aircraft’s pilot. “We collided with a drone back there in the turn as we were coming to ASALT, just wanted to pass to you,” the pilot told an air traffic controller in an audio clip obtained by WABC. The drone struck the plane near the cockpit while the aircraft was 3,000 feet above ground, according to the pilot, who said he didn’t need any help with landing during the same call to air traffic control. A spokesperson for the airline told the Daily Mail that no one was injured in the incident and an inspection found no evidence of a collision. “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 spokesperson said, adding that the company plans to “assist with any relevant investigations.” The Daily Beast has reached out to JetBlue for further comment. This isn’t the first time in recent days a drone and a commercial flight have gotten too close for comfort. United Airlines Flight 1513 nearly hit a drone while landing just 16 miles west at Newark Airport on Friday. The flight from Key West was a mere 100 feet above the flying object before safely touching down. “We want to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is dangerous and illegal,” the FAA told People at the time of the incident. The agency receives around 100 reports of drone sightings near airports each month.Read it at Daily MailRead more at The Daily Beast.