Two airplanes came as close as 100 feet to a drone while landing at the John F. Kennedy International Airport on Friday afternoon.
The first plane, JetBlue Flight 1843 reported to the tower upon seeing a drone while it was landing at the airport. The plane was at an altitude of 800 - 900 feet at 2:24 p.m. when a drone passed by the jet's nose. After almost three hours, another flight reported a similar sighting. Delta Flight 407 from Orlando with 154 passengers reported a drone flying 100 feet beneath its right wing when it was about to land around 5 p.m, DailyMail reported.
Authorities have not confirmed whether a single drone was reported in both sightings. Both of the flights did not conduct any action against the drones and both landed safely at JFK, according to USA Today.
The Delta flight encountered the drone near Floyd Bennett Field in Gateway National Recreation Area. A park ranger said that the area does not allow drones, but some aviation fanatics still fly "radio-controlled propeller crafts and unmanned small jets." Near the area, there is a place where people with permits can fly their small aircrafts, the ranger said to CNN.
Mary Schiavo, CNN aviation expert, said, "It's very, very concerning because having drones at JFK or any major airport was illegal even before the latest drone laws came into effect." She also added that "What is happening now is there are some stiff prosecutions being handed out -- including jail time -- for lawbreakers. As they people get the word, they won't do such idiotic things anymore."
Phil Derner of NYCaviation.com said that these drones may be sucked into an engine and destroy it. "Going into the cockpit window can injure a pilot or even kill a pilot," he added, according to CNN.
Model aircraft operations for a hobby and recreational purposes should abide several rules. Some of those are not flying beyond 400 feet and not flying within five miles of an airport unless it is allowed by the airport and control tower. Carelessness using unmanned aircrafts resulting in the endangerment of others could result in fines, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.
