A frightening incident occurred at Newark Airport in New Jersey on Friday, involving a United Airlines Boeing 737 carrying 106 passengers and 5 crew members. As the jet was approaching its descent from Key West, Florida, at around 4:20 pm, it narrowly missed colliding with a drone. The pilot reported that the three-foot-wide device was only about 100 feet below the aircraft.
The pilot's voice was captured in audio, stating, "We almost hit a drone," and describing the device as circular-shaped and approximately three feet wide. The tower responded, inquiring about the drone's location and whether the pilot had a clear view of it. The pilot confirmed that the drone was directly below the plane.
Another pilot, flying into Newark on a separate plane, also reported seeing the drone at an altitude of roughly 2,000 feet. This additional sighting suggests that the drone was operating in the vicinity of the airport for some time. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the incident.
United Airlines released a statement confirming that the plane landed safely and all passengers deplaned normally. The airline stated that the flight reported a potential drone sighting prior to arriving in Newark, but fortunately, no harm was caused. The FAA notes that there are approximately 100 drone sightings per month near U.S. airports, highlighting the ongoing concern about drone safety in airspace.
The FAA's investigation into the incident is underway, and the details of the drone's operation and the circumstances surrounding the near-miss are being examined. The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of ensuring safe and responsible drone operation, particularly in areas near airports where air traffic is dense.
