JetBlue Flight Reports Drone Strike on Approach to JFK, FAA Investigates

A JetBlue Airways Airbus A321 operating Flight 948 from Las Vegas to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport reported striking a drone on final approach on June 29, 2026. The incident occurred around 7:15 a.m. local time at approximately 3,000 feet altitude near the ASALT waypoint, about two miles from the runway. Air traffic control audio captured the pilot stating the object struck “right above the cockpit” during a turn. The plane landed safely without incident, and a post-flight inspection found no damage. The FAA immediately launched an investigation and confirmed the details in an official statement. This marks another reported drone encounter in heavily trafficked U.S. airspace, following a separate helicopter near-miss with a remote-control airplane near JFK hours later the same day. Reports from AP, CNN, Fox News, and Reuters highlight growing concerns over unauthorized drone activity near major airports, with the FAA noting increased sightings and temporary flight restrictions in the New York area. The event underscores vulnerabilities in even the most monitored airspace and renews calls for enhanced counter-UAS measures at critical infrastructure.