FAA Probes Reported Drone Strike Involving JetBlue A321 Near JFK

The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation after the crew of a JetBlue flight reported striking a drone during final approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday, June 29.

JetBlue Flight 948, an Airbus A321 arriving from Las Vegas, was at approximately 3,000 feet when the crew reported the encounter. According to air traffic control audio cited by multiple news outlets, the pilot told JFK tower the aircraft had collided with a drone during a turn, noting the impact occurred "right above the cockpit." The aircraft landed safely, and passengers deplaned without incident. JetBlue removed the plane from service for a thorough post-flight inspection, which revealed no structural damage and no physical evidence of a collision. The airline described the event as a "possible drone encounter" and said safety remains its top priority.

The FAA is reviewing radar data, ATC recordings and crew interviews to determine the nature of the encounter. The incident adds to growing concerns over unauthorized drone operations near major airports; the agency receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month. The FAA is also investigating a separate drone-related incident at nearby Newark Liberty International Airport the preceding Friday, underscoring the widening challenge of managing unmanned aircraft in some of the nation's busiest airspace.