Pilots might've spotted the elusive person who has apparently been jetpacking around the Los Angeles area.
In case you haven't heard or seen, someone has, apparently, been flying what appears to be a jetpack near LA International Airport. There have been multiple sightings.
Now, pilots from the Sling Pilot Academy in California might've spotted the so-called jetpacker during an instructional flight. A post from the academy noted they were flying at about 3,000 feet over the ocean when the person or object flew past them.
Here's the video, courtesy of Sling Pilot Academy.
Now, to be clear, this apparent jetpack person could be a ruse. It could be a drone fashioned to look like a person wearing a jetpack, for instance. Never underestimate peoples' desire to prank for seemingly no reason.
It would be quite the scientific accomplishment to have engineered such an effective jetpack. For instance, here's a bit of analysis from The Drive:
"A guy flying out over the ocean in a jet pack at around 3,000 feet, especially one without any lifting surfaces, is a puzzling proposition, to say the least. Jet packs that do exist have very short ranges and are not equipped to be flying in dense airspace, especially thousands of feet in the air."
So, the puzzling case of the jetpack person only grows more puzzling. Authorities are looking into it.
"We’re aware of it and are continuing to investigate the reports," FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told the LA Times.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), meanwhile, told the paper it had not received reports from pilots who thought they saw a jetpack in the LA area.
"The FAA has taken the sighting reports it has received seriously, and has worked closely with the FBI to investigate them," the FAA told the paper. "However, the FAA has been unable to validate the reports."
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