MANPAD alert Delta airliner landing at LaGuardia NY

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MANPAD alert (often stylized as MANPADS alert) is a specific aviation security warning issued by air traffic control (ATC) to pilots when there is a credible or reported threat of a Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) attack on aircraft.

faa.gov

What Are MANPADS?MANPADS (Man-Portable Air Defense Systems) are lightweight, shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles designed to target low-flying aircraft, such as helicopters, small planes, or airliners during takeoff or landing. They are typically infrared (heat-seeking) guided, portable by one or a few people, and have an effective range of roughly 3–6 miles (5–10 km) against lower-altitude targets.

en.wikipedia.org

They pose a real (though rare) risk to civil aviation, with historical incidents involving civilian aircraft dating back decades.What Does a MANPADS Alert Mean?It notifies pilots of a potential or confirmed threat from a shoulder-fired missile near an airport or flight path.
The alert is part of FAA (and similar international) procedures for handling emergencies and security threats.

faa.gov

Controllers do not withhold landing clearance; pilots or their airline decide on actions (e.g., continue, divert, or take evasive measures).
Information is shared via:Controller-to-pilot radio transmissions.
ATIS (Automatic Terminal Information Service) broadcasts.

Pilots are advised to exercise extreme caution, especially during low-altitude phases like approach and departure.

reddit.com

Real-World Example (Recent)On July 21, 2026, at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, a report of a man with a possible portable rocket launcher near Terminal C triggered a MANPADS alert to incoming flights (e.g., Delta 2604). Controllers informed pilots it was a shoulder-fired missile threat. The report was quickly deemed non-credible, with no flight disruptions.

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