USAF GV Crew Reports Person in ‘Wingsuit’ at 4,000 Feet

The crew of a U.S. Air Force Gulfstream V operating under the call sign SAM741 (Special Air Mission 741) reported sighting of a person in a “wingsuit” as the aircraft was passing through 4,000 feet on a flight into Los Angeles International Airport (KLAX) earlier this week, according to the LiveATC recordings.

While no other sightings were known to follow, the report hearkened back to the series of reports of a person apparently seen wearing a “jetpack” flying through various altitudes that circulated earlier in the decade. Video captured at least one of these incidents, but it was unclear whether it was the so-called “jetpack man” or a drone. Investigations yielded no information, and the reports ceased.

However, on Sunday, SAM741 reported a similar event while on a trip to KLAX from Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas. This flight followed one that began at Joint Base Andrews, according to FlightAware.

The pilot on the GV reported to air traffic control that they “just had a potential skydiver around 4,000 feet.” The controller responded with seeming surprise: “What was that?” And the pilot elaborated, “We just had somebody cross above us around 4,000 feet in a wingsuit.” This elicited an “are you serious?” response, but the pilot affirmed.

The controller then notified other incoming aircraft that could be near the flight path of the potential, including those from American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines. The controller received a round of acknowledgements to remain on the lookout, with one pilot noting that they had heard of such an event on social media but thought it had been bogus.

“Yeah, it’s been a few years since we’ve last experienced it here, but I guess another one today,” the controller stated.