A United Airlines passenger jet narrowly avoided a collision with a drone while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday evening, raising concerns about aviation safety just ahead of the busy Fourth of July holiday week. The near-miss incident was reported by the pilot in air traffic control audio verified by CNN, who described the drone as circular and approximately three feet wide, flying about 100 feet below the aircraft.
At around 5:20 p.m. ET, the Boeing 737, which was arriving from Key West, Florida, had 106 passengers and five crew members on board. Despite the alarming encounter, the flight landed safely about ten minutes later, and passengers disembarked without incident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since launched an investigation into the matter.
Simultaneously, another pilot operating a United Express flight for GoJet Airlines reported a sighting of a drone at an altitude of approximately 2,000 feet just moments later. These incidents come during a peak travel period, with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) anticipating nearly 18.7 million travelers will pass through airport security checkpoints in the United States between June 30 and July 6.
Drone sightings near U.S. airports have been an ongoing concern, with the FAA reporting around 100 sightings per month. Despite regulations that prohibit drone use in controlled airspaces without proper authorization, this year has seen a notable increase in such reports, with 319 drone sightings documented by pilots up until March. Luckily, actual collisions remain rare; only eight pilots reported having to take evasive actions to avoid a drone, and incidents where drones crash near runways are infrequent.
Earlier this year, pilots at New York’s LaGuardia and Kennedy International Airports had reported sightings of multiple drones, demonstrating the growing presence of unmanned aircraft systems in crowded airspaces. To combat this issue, airports are increasingly implementing advanced detection technologies to monitor drone activities.
During a Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing, Nevada Senator Jacky Rosen highlighted ongoing efforts by the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to develop counter-drone technologies to prevent unauthorized flights around airports. Former New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu, now President and CEO of Airlines for America, emphasized the need for comprehensive regulations to ensure safety in national airspace without any loopholes.
Compounding the urgency, Newark Airport is located approximately 15 miles from East Rutherford, New Jersey, where World Cup matches are set to occur, areas where drone operations have been met with strict regulations. The potential risks associated with drone activity are not new; in April 2019, air traffic at Newark was disrupted due to a drone sighting near Teterboro Airport, resulting in immediate safety concerns among flight crews.
As air travel continues to ramp up ahead of holiday festivities, the industry remains vigilant regarding the growing threat posed by drones, underscoring the importance of effective regulatory frameworks and technological advancements in maintaining safety in the skies.
