A JetBlue Airways passenger jet reported striking a drone while on final approach to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on Monday morning, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The Airbus A321, operating flight 948 from Las Vegas, landed safely and all passengers disembarked normally, the airline said.

In air traffic control audio recorded by ATC.com, the pilot can be heard telling controllers: “We collided with a drone back there in the turn… it hit us right above the cockpit.” The encounter occurred at approximately 3,000 feet (900 metres) around 7:15 a.m. local time. JetBlue stated that a post-flight inspection “found no damage or evidence of a collision,” and the aircraft was later cleared to return to service.

The absence of physical evidence leaves the nature of the incident unconfirmed, despite the crew’s report. The FAA has opened an investigation, but no debris or impact marks have been located. The agency notes it receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, though verified collisions with commercial aircraft remain exceptionally rare.

The event comes days after a United Airlines flight reported a near-miss with a drone while descending into Newark Liberty International Airport, another New York-area hub. US authorities have repeatedly cautioned that unauthorised drone operations near airports are illegal and can carry stiff fines or jail terms. The FAA recently imposed temporary drone flight restrictions over parts of New York amid heightened concern over sightings. The investigation into Monday’s incident is ongoing.