Federal authorities are investigating a report on Monday that a pilot on an international passenger flight saw a small, unmanned or remote-controlled aircraft in the sky while on its landing approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport in Queens.
In a statement, the Federal Aviation Administration said the incident took place at about 1:15 p.m.
Federal officials did not comment on published reports saying that the jet was an Alitalia flight inbound from Rome.
The FAA said the pilot was approaching Runway 31 Right, bringing him in over Rosedale, when he reported seeing a small drone-type object to air traffic controllers.
The sighting was between four and five miles southeast of the airport and occurred at approximately 1,500 feet.
The flight crew was not required to take any evasive action, and the plane landed safely without further incident. No one was hurt. A local resident told 1010 WINS it was likely a model plane. Additional reports said the FBI also is investigating the incident.
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