Close Call: United Airlines Flight Nearly Collides with Drone at Newark Airport

Tense Landing Incident at Newark Airport

A routine landing at Newark Airport escalated into a tense situation on Friday when a United Airlines aircraft narrowly avoided a collision with a drone during its descent. The incident occurred around 4:20 p.m., as the plane was approaching the runway, with the crew successfully steering clear of the unmanned aerial vehicle. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has confirmed the details surrounding this alarming event.

Air Traffic Control Audio Reveals the Danger

The gravity of the situation was highlighted by audio recordings from air traffic control. In the verified recordings, the pilot can be heard stating, "We almost hit a drone," illustrating just how close the encounter was.

The drone was reported to be circular, approximately three feet in diameter, and at its closest approach, it was merely about 100 feet beneath the aircraft—a dangerously small distance during landing. This incident was not isolated; another pilot landing at Newark also reported seeing a drone at an altitude of around 2,000 feet.

Details About the Flight

The aircraft involved was a United Airlines Boeing 737, arriving from Key West, Florida, with 106 passengers and five crew members on board. In response to the incident, United Airlines issued a statement confirming that flight 1513 had reported a potential drone sighting before landing safely in Newark, where passengers disembarked without issues.

Increasing Drone Incidents at Airports

The FAA is currently investigating this occurrence, but such incidents are becoming increasingly common. The agency receives over 100 reports each month regarding drones spotted near airports, highlighting the frequency of unauthorized drone flights in close proximity to commercial aircraft. Those caught operating drones illegally near airports face significant penalties, including fines and potential criminal charges that could result in imprisonment.