Jetpack man
Jetpack man, also described as guy in a jetpack[1] or Iron Man, is an unknown person or object that has been observed flying what appears to be an unauthorized jetpack around the Los Angeles area at least five times from 2020 to 2022.[2][3][4] Multiple airplane pilots have reported seeing the jetpack man at altitudes around 5,000 feet (1,500 m).[5]
It is unknown whether each sighting is the same person,[6] or whether it might be a drone designed to look like a person with a jetpack.[7] Neither jetpacks nor large drones are commonly flown at that altitude or at that distance from land, and there have been no sightings of a takeoff or landing. It has been theorized by the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration that the jetpack man is actually a balloon.
Sightings
[edit]First sighting
[edit]On August 30, 2020, two different airline pilots reported seeing a "guy in a jetpack" hovering near Los Angeles International Airport at 3,000 feet (910 m), 300 yards (270 m) from the course of planes on a 10 miles (16 km) final approach.[5]
American 1997: Tower, American 1997, we just passed a guy in a jetpack... Off the left side, maybe 300 yards (270 m) or so, about our altitude.
Skywest pilot: We just saw the guy passing by us in the jetpack.
Second sighting
[edit]In November 2020, a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter crew recorded a video of what appeared to be a balloon of the fictional character Jack Skellington from the film The Nightmare Before Christmas. The video was recorded over the Beverly Hills area. A balloon is believed by many to be the explanation for the phenomenon. The behavior of the balloon was similar in the footage to the jetpack man as it was and would later be described.
The LAPD later released the footage in November 2021. The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a statement on the matter, remarking that "the FBI has worked closely with the FAA to investigate reported jet pack sightings in the Los Angeles area, none of which have been verified," and later adding that "One working theory is that pilots might have seen balloons."[8][9]
Third sighting
[edit]On October 14, 2020, China Airlines 006 reported seeing "a flying object like a flight suit jetpack" at 6,000 feet (1,800 m).[10]
Fourth sighting
[edit]On December 21, 2020, a pilot and flight instructor with Sling Pilot Academy captured the first video of such a flying object, at around 3,000 feet (910 m) near Palos Verdes and Catalina Island (south of Los Angeles).[11][12] The academy posted the video to their Instagram account, commenting:
The video appears to show a jet pack, but it could also be a drone or some other object. If it is a 'guy in a jet pack' then it remains to be seen whether it is a legal test flight... or related to the jet pack sightings near LAX recently that caused disruptions to air traffic.[12]
Fifth sighting
[edit]On July 28, 2021, a pilot reported seeing a flying object that looked like a man in a jetpack, roughly 15 miles (24 km) off the California coast, at 5,000 feet (1,500 m).[13] In air traffic control chatter, the flying object was referred to variously as "the UFO" and "Iron Man".[14]
747 pilot: "Possible jetpack man in sight... about 5000" ...
LAX Tower: Skywest 3626, did you see the... did you see the UFO?
Skywest 3626 pilot: We were looking but we did not see Iron Man.
Tower: Attention all aircraft, use caution for the jetpack. He is just north of the final, around 5000 at Gate C, last reported [...]
Other pilot: Where'd you say Iron Man was flying around again?
Tower: Around 5000, reported by a heavy 74 on a 15-mile final.
Sixth sighting
[edit]A sixth sighting of jetpack man occurred in June 2022 15 miles east of LAX at about 4,500 ft (1,400 m).[15]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Shuman, Phil (August 31, 2020). "FBI investigating pilot's report of 'guy in jetpack' flying 3,000 feet in air near planes at LAX". FOX 11. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Winton, Richard (September 1, 2020). "Alarmed pilot tells LAX tower: 'We just passed a guy in a jet pack'; FBI now investigating". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Sung, Morgan (July 29, 2021). "Jetpack man is back, adding to the flying mystery over LAX". Mashable. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Miranda, Gabriela. "LAX air traffic controllers report another strange jetpack man sighting, warn pilots". USA Today. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Pilot reports 'possible jet pack man' near Los Angeles". ABC News. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Cramer, Maria (July 30, 2021). "'The Jetpack Guy Is Back': Los Angeles Sighting Draws an Inquiry, Again". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph (January 20, 2021). "Airliner Pilot Says Jet Pack Guy Over Los Angeles Looked Just Like This Crazy Drone". The Drive. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Winton, Richard (November 2, 2021). "FBI floats a working theory on the 'jet pack man' flying above L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ Yamada, Haley; Stone, Alex. "New theory about mysterious LAX 'jet pack man' released by police". ABC News. Retrieved November 3, 2021.
- ^ Rogoway, Tyler; Trevithick, Joseph (October 14, 2020). "A Guy In A Jetpack Was Spotted Again By Airliners Descending Into LAX. We Have The Audio". The Drive. FAA comment reported by CNBC. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Andrew Daniels (December 28, 2020). "Bizarre Video Captures L.A.'s Mysterious Jetpack Man in Flight". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ a b "Jetpack Man: Does He Exist?". www.instagram.com. Sling Pilot Academy. December 22, 2020. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Silver, Stephen (August 2, 2021). "The Jetpack Man Has Been Spotted Again in Los Angeles". The National Interest. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Rogoway, Tyler (July 29, 2021). "Jetpack Man Spotted Again By Pilots On Approach To LAX Nearly A Year After First Sighting". The Drive. Audio recording by ATCLive.net. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ "Person flying jet pack spotted near LAX, pilot claims; FAA investigating". ABC7 Los Angeles. June 24, 2022. Retrieved March 10, 2023.
