Passengers aboard a plane with 106 individuals experienced a frighteningly close encounter with a drone as the aircraft approached Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey. The incident involved United Airlines Flight 1513, which had flown from Key West, Florida.
During air traffic control communication, the pilots mentioned coming perilously close to a drone, describing it as a circular object about three feet wide, positioned approximately 100 feet below their aircraft. The Boeing 737, carrying 106 passengers and five crew members, landed safely without any reported injuries around 5:30 pm.
United Airlines issued a statement confirming the potential drone sighting before the plane’s arrival in Newark, emphasizing that the flight concluded safely and passengers disembarked as usual.
Shortly after this incident, another pilot approaching Newark reported sighting a drone at an altitude of around 2,000 feet, according to air traffic control records. The Federal Aviation Administration has initiated an investigation into the matter.
The FAA routinely receives over 100 reports monthly concerning drones operating near airports. It is illegal to fly drones in controlled airspace without proper authorization in the US, carrying severe penalties, including potential criminal charges.