Pilot Reports Seeing 'Guy In A Jetpack' Flying At 3,000 Feet

A pilot in America claimed to have seen someone in a jetpack flying in the skies on Sunday evening, right in the path of planes destined for Los Angeles International Airport in California.

The pilot, who works for American Airlines, reported the strange observation via radio to the control tower, saying he could see a 'guy in a jetpack' as he approached LAX at about 3,000 feet, around 10 miles out for a landing.

The pilot estimated that the bloke was only about 300 yards out of his window, with Fox News reportingthat a second pilot also saw the mysterious figure.

In an audio recording of the conversation, you can hear 'Pilot AA1997' saying: "Tower, American 1997, we just passed a guy in a jetpack."

A message from the control tower replies: "American 1997, OK, thank you. Were they off to your left or right side?"

The pilot says: "Off the left side, maybe 300 yards or so, about our altitude."

In the recording, his co-pilot could also be heard adding: "Only in LA."

Fox

While it seems hard to believe, visual flight rules mean there must be strong visibility for pilots while in the air, and the supposed man was figured at a time when skies still weren't dark.

Yet no one has come forward to say they were up in the skies that day flying a jetpack, and while we do live in an era where such stunts aren't out of the question, there's no denying that 3,000 feet is abnormally (and dangerously) high for someone to be whizzing around.

Representatives from American Airlines told Fox to contact the FAA, who told the news outlet that they turned the report over to the LAPD for investigation, possibly in the hope of trying to locate the person via helicopter or ground patrol.

PA

However, the LAPD told Fox they received no such report from the FAA.

This means it all remains quite the mystery, although two retired pilots, who currently teach and consult on aviation safety, believe the pilot about what he saw.

Speaking to Fox, they said this is due to their 'trained eyes' and visual awareness.

For now, we'll all just have to remain equally baffled, with actor James Woods sharing the news story and writing: "#2020 can't end soon enough."

Topics: Pilot, News, US News

Jess Hardiman

Jess is a journalist at LADbible who graduated from Manchester University with a degree in Film Studies, English Language and Linguistics - indecisiveness at its finest, right there. She also works for FOODbible and its sister page Seitanists, which are both a safe haven for her to channel a love for homemade pasta, fennel and everything else in between. You can contact Jess at [email protected].

@Jess_Hardiman