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United Airlines flight almost hit drone ‘100 feet below us’ in scary near-collision at Newark Airport

  • Writer: WGON
    WGON
  • 1 day ago
  • 1 min read

A United Airlines jet nearly smashed into a drone as it was landing on the Newark runway Friday, officials said.


The crew narrowly avoided the unmanned aircraft during its descent around 4:20 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.


“We almost hit a drone,” the pilot can be heard saying in air traffic control audio verified by CNN.


The circular and three-foot-wide device was only “about 100 feet below us.”


Another pilot flying into Newark on a separate plane also reported seeing the drone at roughly 2,000 feet, additional audio shows.


The United Airlines Boeing 737 was carrying 106 passengers and 5 crew members from Key West, Florida.


“United flight 1513 reported a potential drone sighting prior to arriving in Newark. The flight landed safely, and customers deplaned normally at the gate,” United said in a statement.


The FAA is investigating the incident.


The federal agency receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, which can cause dangerous consequences.

Unauthorized operators are subject to fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time, the FAA warned.

 
 
 

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