Passengers aboard a flight carrying 106 individuals experienced a frighteningly close encounter with a drone as the plane was preparing to land, coming within approximately 100 feet of the unmanned aircraft.
The incident occurred during the approach of United Airlines Flight 1513 to Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey following its journey from Key West, Florida.
During communication with air traffic control, the pilots mentioned, “We almost hit a drone,” describing the object as circular, roughly three feet in width, and positioned “about 100 feet below us.”
The Boeing 737, with 106 passengers and five crew members on board, safely landed around 5:30 pm without any reported injuries.
United Airlines released a statement confirming that “United Flight 1513 reported a potential drone sighting before landing in Newark. The flight landed safely, and passengers disembarked normally at the gate.”
Subsequently, another pilot approaching Newark also reported sighting a drone at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet, according to communications with air traffic control.
The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an investigation into the incident, as it receives over 100 reports monthly of drones operating near airports. Operating a drone in controlled airspace without authorization is illegal in the US and can result in severe penalties, including criminal charges.
