Pilot Reports Close Encounter with Drone Near J.F.K. Airport

John Mitty Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Yesterday afternoon around 1:15 p.m., a pilot flying an Alitalia jet from Rome to J.F.K. International Airport in New York reported to air traffic control that he had just had a close encounter with a flying drone.  According to the pilot’s report, the drone was located about 1,500 feet up in the air around the South Shore of Long Island in Nassau County.  That is a common flight route for planes heading west for runway 31R at J.F.K., so a drone in the air around that location could pose hazards for other aircraft.

So far, the pilot’s report remains somewhat mysterious.  He stated that he did not need to alter his course, and he was able to land the plane safely.  No passengers reported seeing the object, nor did anyone in Nassau County on the ground, but it was described by the pilot as being black and having several propellers.  The report has been investigated by the New York Police Department as well as the F.B.I., but the investigation has been inconclusive.  According to Police Department spokesman Paul J. Browne, “The current thinking among aviation officials is that it was a large model aircraft, remote-controlled from the ground.”

jmitty@longislandyellowpages.com

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