Pilot reports seeing possible model rocket fly by

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Federal aviation officials are investigating an incident in which something -- possibly a model rocket -- flew near a Southwest Airlines jet as it approached Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday night.

The pilot of Southwest Flight 454 reported seeing what he thought was a model rocket pass on the left side of the aircraft as the plane was about 12 miles southeast of Baltimore-Washington International Airport at 7:10 p.m. EST, Federal Aviation Administration and Southwest Airlines officials said.

The aircraft was about 3,000 feet high at the time, the FAA said. It landed without problem.

The incident also has been reported to the FBI, said FAA spokeswoman Arlene Salac.

Federal regulations prohibit people from operating model rockets within five miles of any airport and in a manner "that creates a collision hazard with other aircraft." Rockets are also prohibited between sunset and sunrise.