FBI Investigating Unidentified Drone Spotted Near JFK Airport

[OldDem2012]

FBI Investigating Unidentified Drone Spotted Near JFK Airport

QUOTE:

The Federal Bureau of Investigation said Tuesday it is investigating an unidentified black drone an Alitalia pilot said he encountered while approaching John F. Kennedy International Airport.

The Flight #608 pilot said he saw the 3-foot-wide drone, with four propellers, at about 1,750 feet Monday, three miles before touching down.

Whether it was a hobbyist breaking the Federal Aviation Administration’s 400-foot-altitude rule or a real spy vessel from the Evil Empire is unknown. Either way, there’s a UFO out there and it came within 200 feet of the plane, the FBI said.

[jberryhill]

1. oops

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Hmmm... that one says only 165 feet.

[OldDem2012]

2. Yeah....a drone flying at an altitude of 1,750 feet makes me think....

....the following:

1. it's obviously built with military grade hardware/software/wireless capabilities
2. it was described as being black or dark in color...it was meant to be covert

Given the above, who might be flying something like that and what was the mission?

And will we mere mortals ever know?

[jberryhill]

3. Military?

WTF, any number of hobbyists can fly RC stuff to 1750 feet.

The toy I posted is limited because it uses the wifi capability of an iphone or ipad.

Here's a hobbyist forum where a guy gets to 1553 with an off-the-shelf Parrot drone:

http://forum.parrot.com/ardrone/en/viewtopic.php?id=6732

&hd=1

[OldDem2012]

4. Just curious, but what idiot would fly their drone in an obvious flight path of a major airport? nt

[jberryhill]

6. There is no shortage of idiots

The same idiots who release mylar film balloons near airports.

I mean what idiot WOULDN'T do that?

People point lasers at aircraft on approach to airports, and do all kinds of insane shit.

That's what makes them idiots.

The RC mod to the Parrot is not some kind of thing that is limited to "people with sound judgment".

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Or, it could be one of these:

#!

Black? Check.
3-foot wingspread? Check.
Four engines? Check.

And many large radio-controlled hobby airplanes can fly at 1700 feet, although they aren't supposed to.

[OldDem2012]

7. "The Flight #608 pilot said he saw the 3-foot-wide drone, with four propellers..." nt.