Federal investigators are looking into the unmanned aircraft sighting reported by an Alitalia pilot landing at JFK on Monday afternoon, an event that has evoked larger fears of the planned widespread integration of unmanned aerial vehicles into American airspace.
The 777 was on final approach to Runway 31R around 1:15 p.m. when one of the Alitalia pilots told the tower controller he saw a black drone with four propellers that was no more than 3 feet wide. According to the FAA, the craft was flying at an altitude of 1,750 feet at the time and came within 200 feet of the airliner. The Alitalia flight, which originated in Rome, landed safely without taking evasive action.
