Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

groundloop

(11,482 posts)
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 07:54 PM Sep 2020

Pilots report mysterious man with jetpack flying near planes

Source: ABC News

There is a mystery unfolding in Los Angeles. It wasn’t Buzz Lightyear or Robert Downey Jr. in "Iron Man," but pilots landing at Los Angeles International Airport on Sunday evening reported seeing a man wearing a jetpack flying near their planes.

"Tower, American 1997, we just passed a guy in a jetpack," the American Airlines pilot radioed to air traffic control, according to recordings by LiveATC.net.

The pilot said the man was flying with a jetpack at 3,000 feet and only about 300 yards away from the plane, Airbus A321.

Shortly after that, another pilot reported that he, too, saw a man in a jetpack flying near their plane.

Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/pilots-report-mysterious-man-jetpack-flying-planes/story?id=72755638

35 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Pilots report mysterious man with jetpack flying near planes (Original Post) groundloop Sep 2020 OP
Tower to American 1887... liberal N proud Sep 2020 #1
Maybe he was looking for murielm99 Sep 2020 #2
Hope they catch him...jeez, we thought drones were dangerous! Karadeniz Sep 2020 #3
Dark Shadows Guy bucolic_frolic Sep 2020 #4
Seriously unhinged -- and dangerous Hekate Sep 2020 #5
Sorta the whole history of aviation.. LunaSea Sep 2020 #11
I know I've seen this before... lapfog_1 Sep 2020 #6
You had your chance! Initech Sep 2020 #10
Has anyone seen Kanye lately? BigmanPigman Sep 2020 #7
You can tell it's 2020 when.... CanonRay Sep 2020 #8
Was it Mr. F? Initech Sep 2020 #9
Was he dressed in black? maxrandb Sep 2020 #12
Video Hassin Bin Sober Sep 2020 #13
That was my first thought. Harker Sep 2020 #33
If there really was anything there, Mr.Bill Sep 2020 #14
... BumRushDaShow Sep 2020 #15
crazy bastads... Ellipsis Sep 2020 #16
Oh wow, I was doubting this at first. Thinking it was mistaken ID or maybe a balloon hoax Sapient Donkey Sep 2020 #35
A scary thought: It could be the Space Force MyMission Sep 2020 #17
...... RhodeIslandOne Sep 2020 #18
Did he look like this? hurple Sep 2020 #19
Y'all beat me to it.. loved that film.. rockin it old school.. mitch96 Sep 2020 #24
First thing I thought about...the comic and the movie were both great Clash City Rocker Sep 2020 #32
Could it have been a balloon? Shoonra Sep 2020 #20
I think you may be on to something ... eppur_se_muova Sep 2020 #27
See post number sixteen blugbox Sep 2020 #30
I'll take mysterious man for $600. Deb Sep 2020 #21
There is a real Rocket man in the UK. Makes you wonder. cayugafalls Sep 2020 #22
One of Trump's Space Force Cadets Drome Sep 2020 #23
They'll be finding him soon. JohnnyRingo Sep 2020 #25
top speed is 86mph Demonaut Sep 2020 #26
Gravity Industries is involved in creating jet packs and is working with the British Military, vsrazdem Sep 2020 #28
George Jetson or his boy Elroy. sarcasmo Sep 2020 #29
Just so it's not that guy in the lawn chair again. CaptYossarian Sep 2020 #31
Commander Cody still lives-- The FIRST Rocketman from the 50's packman Sep 2020 #34

LunaSea

(2,892 posts)
11. Sorta the whole history of aviation..
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 08:29 PM
Sep 2020

Doing unhinged and dangerous things to fly.
But what an asshole to have so much nearby desert and still endanger others.

Harker

(13,822 posts)
33. That was my first thought.
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 10:16 AM
Sep 2020

As a child, I saw "Thunderball" at a theatre near Chicago.

Bond's Aston Martin DB5 was roped off in the lobby, and a guy flew around the parking lot with a jetpack.

The manager jocularly offered to let me try the ejection seat.

Mr.Bill

(24,031 posts)
14. If there really was anything there,
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 08:56 PM
Sep 2020

I'm going with an unmanned craft of some kind built to resemble a man. They do make small jet engines powerful enough to propel same pretty large R/C planes. And if it wasn't an actual person but something that resembles one it could weigh a whole lot less.

Sapient Donkey

(1,568 posts)
35. Oh wow, I was doubting this at first. Thinking it was mistaken ID or maybe a balloon hoax
Thu Sep 3, 2020, 02:38 AM
Sep 2020

Those are by far some of the most impressive ones I've seen. There can't be too many of those (or similar) out there at this time. Would be interesting to know if any of them were recently in LA.

MyMission

(1,844 posts)
17. A scary thought: It could be the Space Force
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 09:44 PM
Sep 2020

And they fly around space in their jetpacks, prepared to protect and defend, or use their force to quell insurrection against their fearful leader. A scary thought!

Shoonra

(513 posts)
20. Could it have been a balloon?
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 10:42 PM
Sep 2020

I honestly think a jetpack could not lift a man 3000 feet up (at least not if he wanted to land gently), but this might have been a shaped balloon, like that one of Baby Trump, that got loose.

JohnnyRingo

(18,563 posts)
25. They'll be finding him soon.
Tue Sep 1, 2020, 11:11 PM
Sep 2020

I can't imagine anything more dangerous than a jetpack at altitude. They have really bad glide ratios when the power stops. Matter of time.

vsrazdem

(2,176 posts)
28. Gravity Industries is involved in creating jet packs and is working with the British Military,
Wed Sep 2, 2020, 12:58 AM
Sep 2020

so I am sure this is not too far off.

Here they are testing with the Royal Navy.

Latest Discussions»Latest Breaking News»Pilots report mysterious ...