Pilots Spot Man In Jetpack In Flight Path At LAX

An American Airlines pilot reported seeing a “guy in a jetpack” in flight path while approaching the busy Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) runway late Sunday.

The American Airlines flight 1997 was about 3,000 feet and ten miles out of LAX when the pilot noticed a peculiar sight and immediately notified airport authorities via radio. According to FOX 11 Los Angeles, the pilot can be heard on the radio saying they passed a “guy in a jetpack.”

When asked by tower control where the supposed flyer passed them, the pilot answered, “Off the left side, maybe 300 yards or so, about our altitude.”

Fox 11 Los Angeles reported “visual flight rules” and the amount of light during the incident made it a possibility. Another pilot also saw the mysterious figure and reported to air traffic control, said MSN.

“We just saw the guy passing by us in the jetpack,” the pilot reported.

Jetpacks are leisure experiments aimed at giving the wearer momentary pleasures of flight. However, the ones the public sees on promotional or fun videos only offer a few seconds of flight at a low level. In addition, anyone with the capability to build such a contraption would definitely stay away from LAX’s flight path, especially due to the danger of flying at such a high altitude.

Fox 11 Los Angeles reported the pilots might have seen an internet or social media stunt. However, two retired pilots said they would “absolutely believe” the pilots considering their “trained eyes and visual awareness.”

The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) told the outlet they have turned over the report to the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) for investigation and that they may try to locate the person using a helicopter or ground patrol. The LAPD meanwhile said they have received no such report from the FAA.

It’s not clear what happened to the “guy in the jetpack” after being spotted by the pilots. The mysterious traveler has not been located as of late Monday, said Fox News.