FAA to investigate incident of pilots heard meowing, barking on radio at DC airport

The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating an incident at the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in which two airline pilots were heard on radio meowing and barking at one another. 

The Air Traffic Control audio of the incident has been circling social media, but it is unclear when the radio communication between the two pilots took place. 

"Meow meow meow meow," one voice can be heard on the recording. 

Another pilot responded to the transmission by barking before the air traffic controllers intervened.  

The FAA told NBC News that "regulations prohibit pilots from engaging in non-essential conversations when they’re below 10,000 feet altitude." 

"Conversations must be related to the safe operation of the aircraft," the agency said. "The FAA investigates all situations where pilots may have violated any regulation." 

Reagan airport is in Arlington, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C.