A Gulfstream G550 private jet was reportedly involved in a midair collision with an unidentified object while operating in airspace near Miami at FL270 on 11 December 2024.
What exactly struck the light jet at 27,000 feet as it transited from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport (KFXE) to New York’s Westchester County Airport (KHPN) is not known. Damage was subsequently reported to one of the aircraft’s engine cowlings.
Mid-air Incident in Miami Airspace
A report by the Flight Safety Foundation’s Aviation Safety Network refers to the midair incident. ASN states that the incident involved a privately-owned Gulfstream G550, registered N553RB.
The ASN report referred to the collision and subsequent reported damage. “The aircraft struck a bird or UAS and post flight inspection revealed damage to the right engine cowling.”
While most bird strikes happen at lower altitudes, some birds can fly at extremely high altitudes. There have been documented cases of bird strikes at 27,000 feet and even higher. However, these incidents at high altitude are extremely rare.
ASA’s Ryan Graves Speaks Out
Ryan Graves, the executive director of the organization Americans for Safe Aerospace (ASA) spoke out on the event. He took to social media earlier this month to discuss the mid-air incident.
Led by former US Navy aviator Ryan Graves, Americans for Safe Aerospace is a non-profit organization. ASA dedicates itself to aerospace safety and national security with a focus on Unidentified Anomalous Phenomena (UAP).
Posting on X, Graves revealed that ASA had received a whistleblower information on the Miami incident. The whistleblower alleged a mid air collision between the private jet and an unidentified object. The source claimed the event took place off the Florida coast on December 11th. The incident, which occurred at 27,000 feet, reportedly resulted in engine damage and an emergency landing.
The whistleblower claims the object, likely a drone, was operating illegally in restricted airspace without a flight plan or transponder.
Graves expressed concern that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) may be downplaying the incident involving the unknown object. According to the ASA head, the incident took place in Class A controlled airspace. He stated that the object which the light jet struck was not squawking a transponder code. There was no record of a flight plan having been filed.
Birdstrike Ruled Out
Of course, a birdstrike would explain the lack of a required flight plan and transponder code.
However, Graves relevantly states that there was no biological indicator of a bird strike. In addition, video of the engine showed metal damage.
“We can largely eliminate the possibility of common objects. A weather balloon would have been transponding. This altitude is too high for hobby drones and illegal for any drone,” said Graves.
“I am concerned the incident is being downplayed by FAA,” he concluded. The ‘incident’ classification change could potentially avoid the need for a formal investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). It would also obviate the need for a mandatory public announcement.
What exactly struck the Gulfstream G500 at 27,000 feet in regulated airspace remains a mystery.
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