FBI probes sighting of mystery ‘black drone’ at JFK airport
7 March 2013 5:48 AM IST
A pilot of a commercial jetliner has reported that he spotted a ‘black’ drone aircraft hovering near his plane on landing at JFK airport and his claim is being investigated by the FBI.
The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Tuesday they are investigating the pilot’s claim that he spotted a small unmanned aircraft on Monday near John F Kennedy International Airport.
‘We saw a drone, a drone aircraft,’ said the pilot, according to radio calls captured by an air traffic web site.
The FBI said the aircraft was described as being black in colour, had four propellers and was no more than three feet wide.
‘The FBI is asking anyone with information about the unmanned aircraft or the operator to contact us,’ Special Agent in Charge John Giacalone was quoted by the CBS News as saying in a statement.
‘Our paramount concern is the safety of aircraft passengers and crew,’ he said. The FAA is also investigating.
The Alitalia pilot spotted the unmanned craft, described as ‘a black drone’, hovering just 200 feet from his jet about three miles east of the airport as he made his approach from Brooklyn.
‘He was very clear as to what he saw,’ a source was quoted by the New York Post as saying.
The FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Tuesday they are investigating the pilot’s claim that he spotted a small unmanned aircraft on Monday near John F Kennedy International Airport.
‘We saw a drone, a drone aircraft,’ said the pilot, according to radio calls captured by an air traffic web site.
The FBI said the aircraft was described as being black in colour, had four propellers and was no more than three feet wide.
‘The FBI is asking anyone with information about the unmanned aircraft or the operator to contact us,’ Special Agent in Charge John Giacalone was quoted by the CBS News as saying in a statement.
‘Our paramount concern is the safety of aircraft passengers and crew,’ he said. The FAA is also investigating.
The Alitalia pilot spotted the unmanned craft, described as ‘a black drone’, hovering just 200 feet from his jet about three miles east of the airport as he made his approach from Brooklyn.
‘He was very clear as to what he saw,’ a source was quoted by the New York Post as saying.
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