FAA Investigates Suspected Drone Strike on JetBlue Flight Near JFK Airport
The FAA is investigating a suspected drone strike involving JetBlue Flight 948, an Airbus A321 arriving from Las Vegas, near New York's JFK Airport. Pilots reported a collision at approximately 3,000 feet altitude, about 10–12 miles from JFK, at 7:15 a.m. local time. The aircraft landed safely and no damage was found. The FAA has not yet confirmed the strike occurred, and the investigation is ongoing.
Highlights
- JetBlue Flight 948, an Airbus A321 from Las Vegas, reported a suspected drone strike at 7:15 a.m. near JFK Airport, at approximately 3,000 feet altitude and 10–12 miles from the airport.
- The aircraft landed safely about six minutes after the reported impact, and post-landing inspections by JetBlue and the FAA found no evidence of damage.
- The FAA has not yet confirmed the drone strike occurred and the investigation remains active; if verified, it would be among the first documented drone-commercial aircraft collisions in the U.S.
- Since the FIFA World Cup opened on June 11, TSA has confiscated more than 300 drones near match venues, though the FAA said the JFK incident's connection to these actions is unclear.
- The FAA receives over 100 reports per month of unauthorized drone operations near U.S. airports, highlighting persistent concerns about unidentified operators and Remote ID enforcement gaps.
FAA Investigates Suspected Drone Strike on JetBlue Flight Near JFK Airport
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation into a suspected drone strike on a commercial airliner. The incident occurred early Monday morning, when JetBlue pilots reported their aircraft was struck by a drone while on approach to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
Incident Details
The event involved JetBlue Flight 948, an Airbus A321 arriving from Las Vegas. At approximately 7:15 a.m. local time, the flight crew reported a suspected collision. According to air traffic control communications, the pilots told controllers: "We just had a collision with a drone while turning — it struck us just above the flight deck."
Flight tracking data show the aircraft was flying near Sea Bright, New Jersey, at the time — roughly 10 to 12 miles from JFK at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet. The plane landed safely about six minutes after the reported impact.
Following touchdown, both JetBlue and the FAA inspected the aircraft and found no evidence of damage.
In a statement, JetBlue said: "Flight safety is JetBlue's top priority, and we will cooperate fully with all relevant investigations."
The FAA has not yet confirmed that a drone strike actually occurred, and the investigation remains active. If the strike is verified, this case would be among the first documented collisions between a drone and a commercial airliner in the United States.
Recent Related Drone Incidents
This suspected strike follows a series of drone-related incidents near major U.S. airports. Last Friday, a United Airlines flight crew reported a near-miss as a drone passed approximately 100 feet below their aircraft on approach to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey.
Authorities have also stepped up enforcement around major public events. According to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), more than 300 drones have been confiscated near FIFA World Cup venues since the tournament opened on June 11. The FAA said it is unclear whether the JFK incident is connected to these enforcement actions.
The FAA receives more than 100 reports per month of unauthorized drone operations near U.S. airports, underscoring ongoing concerns about unmanned aircraft entering controlled airspace without authorization.
Questions of Liability
Beyond confirming the facts of the incident, the case highlights a deeper issue: when an unauthorized drone operates near a commercial flight, accountability is difficult to establish.
If the drone operator cannot be identified, any financial liability for damages or operational disruptions typically falls on the airline and its insurers. Although current regulations explicitly prohibit unauthorized drone operations near airports, tracing responsibility is extremely difficult if the drone itself is never recovered.
Regulators in both the United States and Canada are actively advancing Remote ID requirements and drone regulation updates, while also strengthening their capacity to respond to illegal drone activity near airports and other sensitive locations.
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