A pilot flying a commercial aircraft near Gatwick Airport reported a close encounter with a suspected drone resembling a “flying saucer” during the landing approach. The incident, detailed in a report by the UK Airprox Board, described the drone passing within 100-300ft of the aircraft’s wing without requiring evasive action.
This sighting adds to a series of disturbing incidents involving drones and commercial planes in the UK. In a separate case near Heathrow Airport, crew members on an A321 aircraft observed a drone flying dangerously close, prompting concerns about potential collisions.
Airprox officials investigating these incidents expressed concerns about the safety of the flights, noting that the close proximity of the drones posed a significant risk. The reports also highlighted a similar encounter involving military personnel, where Royal Air Force pilots operating an air-to-air refueling mission spotted an unidentified craft flying just 100-150ft away, evading radar detection.
These incidents underscore the growing challenges posed by drones in airspace safety and the need for enhanced regulations to prevent potential collisions and ensure passenger safety.