United Jet Nearly Hits 3-Foot Drone Near Newark With 106 Passengers Aboard
Updated
Updated · CNN · Jun 27
United Jet Nearly Hits 3-Foot Drone Near Newark With 106 Passengers Aboard
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Jun 27
Summary
A United Boeing 737 arriving from Key West came within about 100 feet of a circular drone near Newark at about 5:20 p.m. ET, according to air traffic control audio and the FAA.
The jet landed safely around 5:30 p.m. ET with 106 passengers and five crew members, while another United Express pilot reported seeing a drone at roughly 2,000 feet near the airport around the same time.
The FAA said it is investigating the incident; drone flights are barred in controlled airspace or near manned aircraft without permission.
Drone sightings near U.S. airports average about 100 a month, with 319 pilot reports filed through March, but only eight involved evasive action and one reported a runway strike.