The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed that a Gulfstream G550 business jet collided with an unidentified object at 27,000 feet off the Florida coast on December 11, 2024. This incident follows reports of unidentified drones flying over US military bases.
The FAA stated to AIN that the aircraft diverted to Palm Beach International Airport after "the pilot reported striking an object in Miami airspace." Simple Flying is seeking further comments from the FAA.
Details about the collision remain scarce. According to a report by the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), the Gulfstream G550, registered as N553RB, was en route from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport to New York's Westchester County Airport when it had to make an emergency landing due to a midair collision with an unidentified object. Post-flight inspection revealed damage to the right engine cowling, suggesting contact with an unmanned aerial system (UAS). The flight carried three people.