A United Airlines plane narrowly avoided a collision with a drone during its approach to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Friday. The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. local time (9:20 p.m. BST), according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Pilot Reports Near Miss
In a communication with air traffic control, the pilot stated: 'We almost hit a drone,' adding that the unmanned aircraft was only 'about 100 feet below us.' The Boeing 737, operating as United Flight 1513, was carrying 106 passengers and five crew members from Key West, Florida. The aircraft managed to avoid the drone and landed safely without incident.
United Airlines confirmed the event in a statement: 'United flight 1513 reported a potential drone sighting prior to arriving in Newark. The flight landed safely, and customers deplaned normally at the gate.'
Second Sighting and Investigation
A separate pilot flying into Newark also reported observing a drone at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet. The FAA announced it is investigating the incident. According to the agency, more than 100 drone sightings near airports are reported monthly.
Flying a drone in controlled airspace without authorization is illegal in the United States and can result in jail time. In the United Kingdom, drone operations are banned within five kilometers of airports since March 2019, when no-fly zone sizes were expanded.
Former UK aviation minister Liz Sugg commented at the time: 'Flying drones illegally puts others at risk both in the air and on the ground, so it’s vital they are used safely. The majority of people using drones want to do so responsibly, so we have expanded a national campaign to ensure they know the rules – and the penalties.'
