JetBlue Plane Hits Drone and Raises Aviation Safety Concerns in New York

JetBlue plane reports drone impact.

Helicopter avoids aerial collision.

FAA investigates both incidents.

A JetBlue plane operating a route between Las Vegas and New York reported a possible impact with a drone while it was in the final approach phase to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), an incident that renewed concerns about airspace safety at one of the busiest airports in the United States.

The aircraft landed without complications, and a later inspection found no visible damage. However, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) opened an investigation to determine exactly what happened and whether the object that struck the plane was actually a drone.

Two incidents within hours increase concerns about aviation safety

“We were hit”: A JetBlue pilot reports a drone impact during landing at JFK Airport https://t.co/l7vyAd1Wy6

— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) June 30, 2026

The JetBlue drone impact was not the only incident recorded near JFK Airport that day.

Hours later, a helicopter pilot reported that he nearly collided with a large remote-controlled aircraft while flying near the northern area of Floyd Bennett Field, very close to the routes used by commercial aircraft arriving at the airport.

The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed the incident through a statement:

“A helicopter pilot flying near John F. Kennedy International Airport reported that a remotely controlled aircraft flew very close to the aircraft.”

The audio communications between the pilot and air traffic control, released later, revealed that the helicopter avoided the collision by a very small margin.

When controllers asked whether the object appeared to be a drone, the pilot responded:

“Just an RC, one of those remote-controlled airplanes, a big one at 500 feet.”

Remote-controlled aircraft spotted inside a critical landing area

A passenger aircraft Airbus A321 of the American airline Jet Blue collided with an unidentified drone while approaching landing at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York

ukraine_watch pic.twitter.com/q2seQGOaOA

— dana (@dana916) June 30, 2026

Following the helicopter report, the control tower immediately issued a warning to all aircraft operating in the area.

The airport’s Automatic Terminal Information Service (ATIS) warned about the presence of an unauthorized unmanned aircraft system inside protected JFK airspace.

According to the alert, the device was red and white and was observed around 4:05 p.m. local time.

The drone was flying at approximately 500 feet, an especially sensitive altitude because it overlaps with part of the flight path used by commercial aircraft during their final approach to the airport.

The object was also seen near the Canarsie navigation beacon (CRI), a key reference point for pilots aligning before landing at JFK.

JetBlue plane pilot said he barely avoided the collision

During the conversation with controllers, the helicopter pilot explained that he also saw other devices on the ground that appeared to be preparing to take off from an area commonly used for recreational remote-controlled aircraft near Floyd Bennett Field.

Controllers responded that they would immediately notify the New York Police Department (NYPD) Aviation Unit to investigate the situation.

When asked whether the aircraft had hit the helicopter, the pilot clarified:

“No, I just brushed past it, but I didn’t hit it or anything like that.”

So far, authorities have not confirmed whether this incident is connected to the earlier report involving the JetBlue flight.

JetBlue drone incident also remains under investigation

The FAA reported that the JetBlue flight notified authorities that it had struck a possible drone while flying at approximately 3,000 feet and about 10 miles from JFK Airport.

Air traffic control recordings indicate that the crew believed the object hit the top of the aircraft, directly above the cockpit.

Despite the report, the plane landed normally and the airline carried out a full inspection after the flight.

JetBlue confirmed that no visible damage was found on the aircraft

Federal authorities continue investigating both cases to determine whether there is any connection between them and to identify the origin of the detected aircraft.

The FAA also reminded the public that operating drones or any remote-controlled aircraft near a major airport is illegal and poses a serious risk to aviation operations, as even a minor impact could endanger passengers and flight crews.

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SOURCE: FOX News