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A helicopter pilot reported he “just almost ran into a gigantic RC airplane” near John F. Kennedy International Airport Monday afternoon, according to newly released air traffic control audio, marking the second aviation safety scare near the airport in a single 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 sighting came just hours after a separate incident in which a JetBlue pilot reported a possible drone strike while the plane was approaching JFK for landing.
Air traffic control audio obtained by LiveATC captured the helicopter pilot telling controllers the close encounter over the northern portion of Floyd Bennett Field.
When asked whether it appeared to be a drone, the pilot replied it was “just an RC, one of the remote-controlled airplanes, a big one at 500 feet.”
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Aircrafts operate at Terminal 5 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)
JFK air traffic control issued a warning to nearby pilots of an unauthorized unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operating in protected airspace, according to ATIS.guru, which collects live digital messages from airports around the world.
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.
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A drone flies above ground while carrying a package. (iStock)
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.
An 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.
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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.