Two airline pilots’ afternoon took a surprising turn after seeing a man wearing a jetpack flying 3,000 feet near LAX.
As an American Airlines pilot approached the Los Angeles International Airport at 6:30 p.m. local time, he reported the incident.
On the radio transmission between flight 1997 and the airport’s tower, the pilot stated, “Tower, American 1997. We just passed a guy in a jet pack.”
When asked by an air-traffic controller to specify the flyer’s location, the pilot responded, “Off the left side at maybe, uh, 300 yards or so, at our altitude.”
Later that day, as claimed by NBC Los Angeles, another pilot encountered someone wearing a jetpack as well.
The second pilot aboard a Southwest Airlines flight reported the unidentified flyer while air-traffic controllers warned another airline crew.
Experts argue 300-yard proximity of the jetpack flyer is extremely dangerous. More than anything, it adds on to the list of hazards that require a pilot’s caution.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office have both confirmed the sightings. Yet, the identity of the flyer remains a mystery.
Many believe this an attempt of a daredevil merely seeking attention on social media. For pilots, however, this stunt serves as a reminder of the daily dangers they face.
Check out ‘Watch: An Airplane Makes Emergency Landing On Trafficked Highway‘ for more unexpected situations pilots experience.
