A helicopter pilot said he “just almost ran into a gigantic RC airplane” near John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday afternoon, according to newly released air traffic control audio, in what became the second aviation safety concern reported near the airport that day.
“A helicopter pilot flying near John F. Kennedy International Airport reported a remote-control airplane flew close to their aircraft,” the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said.
The report surfaced only hours after a separate episode involving a JetBlue pilot, who reported a possible drone strike as the aircraft was on approach to JFK.
Audio from air traffic control, obtained by LiveATC, captured the helicopter pilot alerting controllers to the close call over the northern section of Floyd Bennett Field.
Asked whether the object appeared to be a drone, the pilot said it was “just an RC, one of the remote-controlled airplanes, a big one at 500 feet.”
JETBLUE FLIGHT REPORTS POSSIBLE DRONE STRIKE DURING APPROACH TO NEW YORK AIRPORT: FAA
Aircraft are seen operating at Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
JFK air traffic control later warned pilots in the area about an unauthorized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operating in protected airspace, according to ATIS.guru, a service that collects live digital airport messages worldwide.
According to the warning, a “red and white” remote-controlled airplane was spotted flying at roughly 4:05 p.m. local time.
It was observed at an altitude of 500 feet, placing it within the typical flight path of low-flying commercial aircraft approaching the airport, according to the ATIS warning.
The aircraft was reported about 1 mile from the Canarsie (CRI) navigation beacon, a key waypoint used by aircraft lining up to land at JFK.
A drone flies above the ground while carrying a package. (iStock)
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The helicopter pilot also told controllers he saw “a couple other ones on the ground” that appeared to be preparing to take off from what he described as an RC flying area near Floyd Bennett Field.
Air traffic controllers told the pilot they would notify NYPD Aviation to investigate the report.
Asked whether the aircraft had struck his helicopter, the pilot responded: “No, I just missed it, but I didn’t hit it or anything.”
People are seen in the new JetBlue Airways Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport during a terminal test in New York. (REUTERS/Joshua Lott/File Photo)
Authorities have not indicated whether the helicopter encounter and the earlier reported drone strike involving the JetBlue flight are connected.
The FAA said it notified local authorities about the report.
Flying a remote-controlled aircraft or drone near a major airport is illegal and poses a serious safety risk to aircraft operating in the area, according to the agency.
A helicopter and drone fly past each other on May 30, 2024. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images)
Earlier Monday morning, a JetBlue flight reported striking a drone at approximately 3,000 feet roughly 10 miles from JFK, the FAA said.
Air traffic control audio from that incident indicated the object appeared to strike the aircraft above the cockpit.
The flight landed safely, and a post-flight inspection did not reveal any damage to the aircraft, JetBlue said.
The FAA is investigating the reported JetBlue incident.
