Jetpack man

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Jetpack man or 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 California area at least five times in 2020–21.[2][3][4] Multiple airplane pilots have reported seeing jetpack man at altitudes around 5000 feet.[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 FAA that the Jetpack man is actually a balloon.

Sightings[]

First sighting[]

On August 30, 2020, two different airline pilots reported seeing a "guy in a jetpack" hovering near LAX at 3000 feet, 300 yards from the course of planes on a 10-mile final approach.[5]

American 1997: "Tower, American 1997, we just passed a guy in a jetpack... Off the left side, maybe 300 yards or so, about our altitude."

Skywest pilot: "We just saw the guy passing by us in the jetpack."

Second sighting[]

In November of 2020, an Los Angeles Police Department helicopter crew recorded a video of what appeared to be a balloon of fictional character Jack Skellington. 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 had and would later be described.

The LAPD only released the footage in November of 2021. The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a statement on the matter and said:

“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,"

Then adding later on that:

“One working theory is that pilots might have seen balloons.”

[8][9]

Third sighting[]

On October 14, 2020, China Airlines 006 reported seeing "a flying object like a flight suit jetpack" at 6000 feet.[10]

Fourth sighting[]

On December 21, 2020, a pilot and flight instructor with Sling Pilot Academy captured the first video of such a flying object, at around 3000 feet 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[]

On July 28, 2021, a pilot reported seeing a flying object that looked like a man in a jetpack, roughly 15 miles off the California coast, at 5000 feet.[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."

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Shuman, Phil (2020-08-31). "FBI investigating pilot's report of 'guy in jetpack' flying 3,000 feet in air near planes at LAX". FOX 11. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  2. ^ Winton, Richard (2020-09-01). "Alarmed pilot tells LAX tower: 'We just passed a guy in a jet pack'; FBI now investigating". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  3. ^ Sung, Morgan (2021-07-29). "Jetpack man is back, adding to the flying mystery over LAX". Mashable. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  4. ^ Miranda, Gabriela. "LAX air traffic controllers report another strange jetpack man sighting, warn pilots". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  5. ^ a b "Pilot reports 'possible jet pack man' near Los Angeles". ABC News. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  6. ^ Cramer, Maria (2021-07-30). "'The Jetpack Guy Is Back': Los Angeles Sighting Draws an Inquiry, Again". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  7. ^ Trevithick, Joseph. "Airliner Pilot Says Jet Pack Guy Over Los Angeles Looked Just Like This Crazy Drone". The Drive. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  8. ^ Winton, Richard (2 November 2021). "FBI floats a working theory on the 'jet pack man' flying above L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  9. ^ Yamada, Haley; Stone, Alex. "New theory about mysterious LAX 'jet pack man' released by police". ABC News. Retrieved 3 November 2021.
  10. ^ Trevithick, Tyler Rogoway and Joseph. "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 2021-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ^ Andrew Daniels (2020-12-28). "Bizarre Video Captures L.A.'s Mysterious Jetpack Man in Flight". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  12. ^ a b "Jetpack Man: Does He Exist?". www.instagram.com. Sling Pilot Academy. December 22, 2020. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  13. ^ Silver, Stephen (2021-08-02). "The Jetpack Man Has Been Spotted Again in Los Angeles". The National Interest. Retrieved 2021-09-15.
  14. ^ Rogoway, Tyler. "Jetpack Man Spotted Again By Pilots On Approach To LAX Nearly A Year After First Sighting". The Drive. Audio recording by ATCLive.net. Retrieved 2021-09-15.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)


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