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A JetBlue plane hit a drone while it was trying to land Monday morning at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City, according to air traffic control audio.
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The plane was traveling from Las Vegas to New York when it reported a drone encounter, according to a statement from JetBlue. The plane landed without incident and passengers were safely deplaned before the aircraft was removed from service for inspection.
There was no damage or evidence of a collision, the airline said.
“Safety is JetBlue’s first priority, and we will assist with any relevant investigations,” JetBlue said.
The collision happened while the plane was at 3,000 feet on its final approach to JFK, the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement.
A pilot reported the incident just as it was cleared to land by air traffic control, according to the audio. The pilot said the incident occurred about 2 miles before it was cleared to land.
“Just quickly, I couldn’t talk to approach, but we collided with a drone back there in the turn,” the pilot said.
“You said you collided?” the air traffic controller asked.
“Yep, it hit us right, right above the cockpit,” the pilot said.
An investigation into the reported collision will be handled by the FAA, the agency said. Generally, drones are permitted to fly legally under 400 feet but there are specific rules about avoiding airspace around airports.
Unauthorized drone operators can be subjected to punishment through fines and/or criminal charge. Incidents involving unauthorized drone sightings are reviewed by the FAA.
I am a senior breaking news reporter for NBC News Digital, covering a range of news-of-the-day topics. My job is to report in a timely manner on crime, mass shootings, war coverage, domestic and international affairs, pop culture and more.
Jay Blackman is an NBC News producer covering such areas as transportation, space, medical and consumer issues.
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