A United Airlines flight collided with a 'shiny, red' drone midair on Wednesday morning, according to social media reports. The Boeing 737, operating as Flight 1980, reportedly struck the mysterious object over San Diego at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet.
Flight Details and Incident
The aircraft departed San Francisco at 6:53 a.m. PST, as per flight tracking data. United Airlines confirmed the incident in a statement, noting that the flight landed safely and passengers deplaned normally at the gate. A thorough inspection by maintenance teams found no damage. The plane carried 48 passengers and six crew members.
Audio Exchange
Audio from the collision between the pilot and dispatcher was captured by the ATC app and shared on social media. In the recording, the dispatcher asks, 'Ground 1980, you know off of runway 27 at Broadway Robin?' The pilot responds, 'We hit a drone. At around probably at around 3000 ft, about.' When asked for details about the drone's size, engines, or style, the pilot replied, 'It was so small, I couldn't tell. It was red. It was shiny.'
Investigation and Regulations
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Daily Mail they are aware of the report and are actively investigating. According to FAA rules, pilots cannot operate drones above 400 feet altitude without specific authorization. Drone pilots must also avoid restricted airspace, including areas around airports. The incident has raised questions on social media, with one user commenting, 'No off the shelf consumer drone can get to 3000 ft. I’ll be very interested to see how this investigation plays out.'
Trends in Drone Incidents
Midair collisions between planes and drones are rare but have been increasing. Drones accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions involving commercial passenger planes during takeoff and landing at the nation’s 30 busiest airports in 2024, according to an Associated Press analysis. This is a developing story.
