FAA investigating drone near misses at JFK
The increasing number of incursions by drones into congested airspace in New York has sparked concerns of federal regulators.
An investigation has begun after reports of unmanned drones flying too close for comfort to passenger planes at New York JFK Airport.
The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) said pilots on Delta Air Lines 838, a Boeing 737, and Virgin Atlantic 9, a Boeing 747, reported seeing drones at altitudes of 2,000 and 3,000 feet while they were landing at the airport on Sunday night.
Another pilot of a JetBlue Airbus 320 spotted a drone about two miles from a different runway at JFK yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).
The FAA said none of the pilots had to take action to avoid the drones and all three flights landed safely.
It is currently setting regulations for the commercial use of drones, which could potentially cause a major safety hazard.
If a drone gets sucked into a jet engine, experts say it could cause even more damage than a bird.
Earlier this week, the National Transportation Safety Board ruled that small drones are classed as a type of aircraft and therefore should be subject to existing FAA rules.
This means the FAA can take action if owners use the machines recklessly.
The drone sightings come after an NYPD helicopter pilot reported a near-miss with a drone over Brooklyn on September 17.
In the same month, NBC New York reported that a Russian tourist was arrested after he was allegedly caught operating a drone around the city’s Brooklyn Bridge.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025