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NetJets Bombardier Global 6500 Reports Near Miss With Large Object Over New York
A NetJets Bombardier Global 6500 experienced a close encounter with a large unidentified object while climbing out of New York, continuing safely to Colombia.
The gist
NetJets Global 6500 narrowly avoided collision with a large unidentified object near New York at 15,800 feet.
On July 4, 2026, a NetJets Bombardier Global 6500 private jet flying from Westchester County Airport near New York to Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, Colombia, reported a near miss with a large unidentified object shortly after departure. The aircraft was climbing through 15,800 feet when the crew observed the object fly down the right side, narrowly missing the aircraft. Following the incident, the flight continued safely and completed its journey without any reported damage or interruption.
The NetJets flight, designated NJE426K and operating registration CS-GLJ, departed at noon local time from Westchester County Airport. Within approximately ten minutes of departure, while heading south-southwest near the New York-New Jersey border, the flight crew reported the object to air traffic control. They described it as smaller than an aircraft but definitely larger than a drone, and unable to identify its exact nature due to the swift encounter.
This Bombardier Global 6500 jet is a part of the NetJets Europe fleet and was delivered in December 2021. At 5.1 years of age, it operates with a VIP seating layout tailored for private clientele. After reaching cruising altitude peaking at 45,000 feet barometric, or 47,500 feet GPS, the aircraft maintained its southbound route along the US East Coast, turning left after Cuba toward Colombia for descent into Pereira.
The incident adds to a recent cluster of close encounters and collisions involving airborne objects within the US airspace. At the end of June, a United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX 9 narrowly avoided a drone on approach to Newark Liberty Airport. Shortly after, a JetBlue Airbus A321 struck a drone while landing at JFK Airport, resulting in a temporary withdrawal from service and a Federal Aviation Administration investigation.
Though no collision occurred in the NetJets incident, the frequency of such events highlights rising concerns around the presence of drones or other airborne objects near controlled flight paths. The inability to quickly identify these objects underscores the challenges aviation safety faces as more small unmanned aerial systems operate in congested airspace.
NetJets has yet to provide an official statement on the incident. However, the capability of the crew to maintain control and continue the international leg to Colombia without incident shows robust operational response procedures in place. The aircraft subsequently flew another leg from Pereira to Rio de Janeiro, indicating no sustained damage from the encounter.
The scenario underlines operational risks in busy terminal areas where private and commercial flights coexist with emerging aerial traffic from drones and other objects. It stresses the need for enhanced detection, regulation, and communication measures to safeguard aircraft and passengers during critical flight phases such as climb out and approach.
The incident involves a sophisticated business jet type that typifies NetJets’ fleet—a segment of high-performance aircraft designed for long-range private travel. Events like this prompt considerations for technological aids on such platforms, potentially including advanced collision avoidance systems tailored for smaller dynamic objects.
This recent near miss near New York signifies an acute operational hazard as unmanned and unidentified objects increasingly share airspace with manned aviation. Aviation authorities and operators face growing pressure to address these encounters proactively, ensuring continued safety for all users of the skies.
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