A joint FAA and FBI investigation into the infamous ‘Jetpack Man’ of Los Angeles has concluded that inflatable balloons are likely to blame. During a routine patrol flight, an LAPD helicopter caught sight of a balloon in the image of Jack Skellington, a character from the Tim Burton movie, “A Nightmare Before Christmas.” Investigators believe this is the most likely explanation for the alleged Jetpack Man sightings around LAX.
Jetpack Man is believed to be a life-sized balloon. Photo: Getty ImagesInvestigation concludes Jetpack Man is most likely a balloon
There have been a number of high-profile sightings of Jetpack Man over the past 18 months. The first sighting was in August 2020, made by the crew of American Airlines Flight AA1997 flying from Philadelphia to Los Angeles.
Then, in October 2020, a China Airlines crew and air traffic control staff reported the same phenomenon, lending credence to the idea of a rogue jetpack operator around LAX.
Has Jetpack Man’s identity finally been uncovered? Photo: Roger Murmann via Wikimedia CommonsHowever, an investigation by the FAA and FBI has concluded that a balloon is the most likely culprit. Specifically, a seven-foot-tall ‘Jack Skellington’ inflatable balloon, which is readily available to purchase online.
The FAA and FBI said,
“One working theory is that pilots might have seen balloons.”
Just two weeks after the second sighting of Jetpack Man, a Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) helicopter caught footage of a Jack Skellington balloon flying rapidly over the Hollywood Hills area. From the video below, it’s easy to see how pilots could mistake the figure for a human in a jetpack.

After multiple reported jet pack sightings near LAX airport and an FBI investigation, it appears there may never have been a jet pack but a balloon.
FBI: One working theory is that pilots might have seen balloons.
Video from LAPD chopper of Jack Skellington balloon pic.twitter.com/V2lZfoDaNc
— Sam Sweeney (@SweeneyABC) November 2, 2021

Alternative theories deemed unlikely
Several theories have been put forward to try and solve the mystery of Jetpack Man. Along with the idea of a human jetpack operator, other theories include a life-size drone or state-of-the-art military technology undergoing testing. However, the FAA and FBI have reportedly played down these alternative theories, although they have not been ruled out entirely.
The FAA commented,
“The FAA has worked closely with the FBI to investigate every reported jetpack sighting. So far, none of these sightings have been verified.”
The alleged jetpack was sighted around LAX. Photo: Getty ImagesFederal agents have worked on the investigation for over a year. Besides the LAPD helicopter recording, officials have not found any additional witnesses or recordings of Jetpack Man. According to the FAA and FBI, the investigation remains open.
Retired airline pilot and aviation consultant Ross Aimer, told NBC Los Angeles,
“This now explains that this could possibly be what they saw. There’s a very good possibility the previous ones were also balloons and pilots mistook them as jetpacks. This is a better explanation to me and to the aviation community.”
Deliberate or accidental?
If the balloon theory turns out to be correct, it still raises the question – were they released intentionally or by accident? While one sighting, or perhaps two, could be put down to a careless balloon handler, three sightings in the same area over an 11-month period seems more than a coincidence.
Do you think the ‘Jetpack Man’ sightings are an ongoing practical joke or just sheer accident? Or do you have an alternative theory about Jetpack Man? Let us know what you think in the comments.

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