The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating three drone sightings near John F. Kennedy International Airport since Sunday, including one that was spotted by a JetBlue airline pilot two miles from the runway.
All three sightings were reported by commercial pilots who noticed the unmanned aircraft while making their final approach to JFK, which is located on the New York City side of the Queens-Nassau County border, the FAA said.
On Sunday, a Delta Air Lines pilot and a Virgin Atlantic pilot reported seeing a drone approximately 10 miles from Runway 22 Left after 8 p.m., flying between 2,000 and 3,000 feet, the FAA said.
Nassau County police Insp. Kenneth Lack, the department’s chief spokesman, said the Aviation Bureau responded Sunday but did not observe any drones.
Another drone was spotted on Wednesday, this time by a JetBlue pilot, who noticed the aircraft when the JetBlue flight was only two miles from Runway 31 Right at 1:50 p.m.
The drones did not appear to pose a danger to the commercial airliners. The reports the FAA received did not indicate that any of the pilots took evasive action, and all three flights landed safely.
Under FAA guidelines, unmanned aircraft are not to fly above 400 feet or near airports and air traffic, and must be within sight of the operator.
The government is receiving near daily reports of drone sightings, according to a recent Associated Press report.
The FBI, which also investigates drone sightings, could not be reached for comment.
The agency is also investigating a March 2013 incident in which a drone nearly collided with a commercial airliner over southwestern Nassau County.
