Pilots Encounter “Guy In A Jetpack” 3,000 Feet Over Los Angeles

Pilots have reported all sorts of unexpected things during flights — high-altitude balloons, close calls with drones, UFOs, maybe this girl. But on Sunday, one pilot contacted air control regarding what he could only describe as a “guy in a jetpack” hovering at 3,000 feet over Los Angeles International Airport.

ABC7 out of Los Angeles shared the ATC audio. The pilot sounded perturbed, but not too excited:

“Pilot: ‘Tower, American 1997, we just passed a guy in a jetpack.’

Tower: ‘American 1997, OK, thank you. Were they off to your left or right side?’

Pilot: ‘Off the left side, maybe 300 yards or so, about our altitude.'”

ATC warned other pilots in the area to keep their eyes open, and at least one other pilot chimed in to say that he, too, had witnessed the jetpack-donning daredevil.

The real mysteries are why someone was flying such a powerful jetpack above LAX, and how they procured one in the first place. An unusual investigation is underway.