FAA opens probe into reported drone strike of JetBlue flight on approach to JFK; here is what the ATC pilot said

The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation after a JetBlue plane reportedly collided with a drone on approach to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday.

According to the FAA, the pilot of the Airbus A321, which was flying from Las Vegas, reported the incident at about 3,000 feet during the plane’s final approach, according to Reuters.

The crash happened around 7:15 a.m. EDT, the US Federal Aviation Administration said.

“We collided with the drone there in the turn. It hit us right above the cockpit,” the pilot told air traffic control, according to ATC.com.

“The flight landed without incident, customers took off normally and the aircraft was taken out of service for flight inspection which found no damage or signs of collision,” the airline said.

It said in a statement that safety is JetBlue’s “first priority” and will coordinate with the requested probe.

The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates John F. Kennedy International Airport, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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The latest incident follows reports that a United Airlines flight also encountered a drone on Friday while landing at Newark Liberty International Airport, another airport serving the New York City area.

In an email issued in late May, the Port Authority said it was preparing for higher passenger traffic at its facilities as the New York-New Jersey region hosts several 2026 FIFA World Cup matches, including the July 19 final.

Meanwhile, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said in a post on X on Monday that it, along with its federal partners, had seized more than 500 drones operating in restricted airspace in all 11 US host cities since the soccer tournament began earlier this month.

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The FAA recommends that drones not be flown near airports and warns that pilots may have difficulty detecting and avoiding them while operating an aircraft.

The agency said it receives more than 100 reports of drone sightings near airports each month and warned that people operating drones without permission could face fines or even jail time.

JetBlue backs off Newark, LaGuardia ops: Report

JetBlue Airways will close its flight attendant base at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey later this fall, along with its technology operations bases in Newark and New York’s LaGuardia Airport, CNBC reported this month.

The closings are part of the airline’s broader cost-cutting strategy and its plan to boost operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport in Florida, one of JetBlue’s most profitable hubs, where it is the largest carrier, the report said.

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According to JetBlue’s annual report, the airline had a 13% seat share at the end of 2025 at five airports in the New York metropolitan area, including Newark, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airport.

JetBlue told CNBC that the operational changes will not result in job losses, adding that affected employees could “offer or transfer to other bases.”

Earlier this year, the airline announced plans to slow hiring, cut capacity and raise fares to offset the impact of rising jet fuel prices that have put pressure on its ongoing turnaround strategy.

Despite the restructuring, JetBlue said it will continue to expand its presence in South Florida by taking advantage of additional gateway availability in the region.