tech
Horror as plane nearly crashes into drone over UK town
A passenger plane came within just a few feet of a horrifying collision with a drone being flown thousands of feet above the legal limit, according to an aviation safety report. The Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner was climbing after reportedly departing Heathrow for Johannesburg when the First Officer noted a drone pass down the right of the aircraft. The incident took place on June 8 when the plane was about 5,500ft over Woking.
TL;DR
- A Virgin Atlantic Boeing 787 Dreamliner had a near-miss with a drone.
- The drone was flying at approximately 5,500ft, thousands of feet above the legal limit of 400ft.
- The drone passed within 16 feet of the aircraft.
- The incident occurred on June 8 over Woking.
- Air traffic control was alerted, and another flight also reported seeing the drone.
- The Civil Aviation Authority sets a maximum drone operating altitude of 400ft from the ground.