Air traffic controller calls pilot "insane" after close call at Florida airport

U.S. Air traffic controller calls pilot "insane" after apparent close call at Florida airport By Kerry Breen Kerry Breen News Editor Kerry Breen is a news editor at CBSNews.com. A graduate of New York University's Arthur L. Carter School of Journalism, she previously worked at NBC News' TODAY Digital. She covers current events, breaking news and issues including substance use. Read Full Bio Kerry Breen Updated on: June 3, 2026 / 1:46 PM EDT / CBS News Add CBS News on Google A JetBlue pilot landing at Fort Lauderdale's airport reported a close call on Monday night, telling air traffic control that a second, smaller plane was flying erratically in the same area.  The incident occurred around 6:15 p.m. on Monday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. In air traffic control audio obtained by LiveATC.net, the tower can be heard giving instructions to the pilot of JetBlue flight 1256 as the plane nears Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport. Then, the JetBlue pilot can be heard saying that the second plane is "turning towards us." The two planes seem to have been just a few hundred feet apart in altitude at the time, according to the audio, and separated by about a mile. A few moments later, the air traffic controller called the small plane pilot "Mad Max," referring to the iconic action move franchise.  "That guy's insane," the controller added, according to the audio. The air traffic controller continued to provide landing information to the JetBlue pilot. The FAA said the "required separation" for safe flight between the two planes was maintained during the incident. The JetBlue flight landed safely shortly afterwards, the FAA said.  The air traffic controller also alerted another JetBlue pilot to the small plane, saying the pilot had "been trying to climb at aircraft." That flight also landed safely, according to the airport.  The pilot of the second plane was not communicating with air traffic control, according...