A United Airlines flight narrowly avoided a collision with a drone while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Friday afternoon. The incident occurred at approximately 4:20 p.m. local time (9:20 p.m. BST) as the Boeing 737 was on its final approach, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Pilot Reports Close Call
In a communication with air traffic control, the pilot stated: 'We almost hit a drone,' and noted that the drone was 'about 100 feet below us.' The aircraft, operating as United Flight 1513, was carrying 106 passengers and five crew members from Key West, Florida. The plane landed safely without further 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.'
Additional Sightings and Investigation
In a separate incident, another pilot flying into Newark reported observing a drone flying at approximately 2,000 feet. The FAA announced it is investigating the near-collision. According to the agency, more than 100 drone sightings near airports are reported each month.
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 flights are banned within five kilometers of airports, a rule expanded in March 2019. Then-aviation minister Liz Sugg commented: '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.'
