A JetBlue pilot appeared cool-headed as he spoke with air traffic control (ATC) following a midair collision with a drone on final approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK).
According to the pilot, the JetBlue Airbus A321-200 was on the turn at around 3,000 feet when the drone struck the aircraft “right above the cockpit”.
Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on June 29, 2026, that it had launched an investigation into the incident.
The Airbus A321-200, registered N979JT, departed Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) on June 29, 2026, at 00:11, for a five-hour flight to New York.
In its statement, the FAA said the collision occurred on final approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport around 07:15.
This morning, JetBlue Airbus A321-231 (N979JT) operating flight B6948 from Las Vegas to New York JFK reported a drone strike while on approach to JFK.
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) June 29, 2026
According to the crew, the drone struck the aircraft just above the cockpit at approximately 3,000 feet around 7:15 a.m. The… pic.twitter.com/VJNVOoBrW5
In an ATC recording the JetBlue pilot said: “We collided with a drone back there in the turn […] It hit us right above the cockpit.”
When asked if the flight crew needed any assistance, the pilot said none was required, and the aircraft subsequently landed safely.
Despite the concerning events, the JetBlue pilot appeared measured and composed during his conversation with the air traffic controller.
In a statement, JetBlue said safety was its “first priority” and the airline “will assist with any relevant investigations.”
“The flight landed without incident, customers deplaned normally, and the plane was removed from service for a post-flight inspection, which found no damage or evidence of a collision,” JetBlue added.
Reports of a second incident at JFK
ABC World News reported that later the same day at JFK, a helicopter pilot said he nearly ran into a “gigantic” radio-controlled plane at around 300 feet.
The FAA has released no details on this separate incident.