On August 30 someone in a jetpack was reported by pilots of an American Airlines flight near LAX. Now it’s happened again. China Airlines flight 215 crew inbound from Taipei reported another man in jetpack at LAX Wednesday afternoon.
At first they flagged a “flying object” but wasn’t sure if it was “a UAV or was it a jet pack?” It was a man in a jetpack flying at 6000 feet over Century City.
JETPACK UPDATE from @FOXLA —
we know @flyLAXairport and local police are aware.. Fox11 has heard the audio between tower and flight crew:
PILOT: “WE JUST SAW FLYING OBJECT LIKE A FLIGHT SUIT JETPACK BY US 6,000… PILOT: “LIKE A JETPACK. TOO SHINY. TOO FAST”— Pete Wilgoren (@WILGOREN) October 14, 2020
Here’s air traffic control audio of the incident.
#JetPack Audio of pilot of 777 from China to LAX as they spotted a man in a jetpack at 6000 ft. Radar tracking puts the plane around Culver City/Crenshaw area at that time. @FOXLA Audio Courtesy @liveatc pic.twitter.com/OQBBiN9uqa
— Kevin Takumi (@KevinTakumi) October 14, 2020
The FBI is investigating – operating jetpacks over congested areas is illegal, generally subject to fines up to $27,500 – however endangering commercial aircraft could entail other charges. Perhaps the strangest thing is the technology that would allow someone to fly up to 6000 feet and have sufficient fuel to maneuver. It’s unclear whether this is the same person who was spotted on August 30. That person or persons will now be hunted.
