A recent incident at Newark Liberty International Airport highlights the increasing concerns surrounding drone activity in U.S. airspace. On Friday, a United Airlines flight was nearly involved in a mid-air collision with a drone while landing. The Boeing 737, which was arriving from Key West, Florida, reported the sighting shortly before 5:20 p.m., as it descended toward the airport with 106 passengers and five crew members on board.
Audio from air traffic control captured the moment when the pilot alerted authorities about the drone. Describing the object, the pilot noted it was circular, approximately three feet wide, and flying at about 100 feet below the aircraft. This alarming close call was compounded by a second report from a United Express flight, operated by GoJet Airlines, which also reported a drone sighting at an altitude of around 2,000 feet as it approached Newark.
In response to the incident, United Airlines released a statement confirming that flight 1513 had encountered the drone. Fortunately, the flight landed safely, and passengers deboarded without complications.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the situation. The agency routinely receives over 100 reports monthly concerning drones near airports. Data shows that, through March of this year, pilots reported a total of 319 drone sightings, with only eight necessitating evasive action. Despite the high volume of sightings, actual collisions remain infrequent, with only one confirmed crash involving a drone occurring at San Carlos Airport in California.
The Newark Airport incident occurs against the backdrop of ongoing World Cup events taking place approximately 15 miles away in East Rutherford, where strict “No Drone Zone” regulations are enforced. Nevertheless, drone operations near airports have become a rising issue. Just months earlier, in March, numerous drone sightings were reported by pilots at both LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International Airports, and there were similar disturbances in April 2019 that caused flight delays at Teterboro Airport.
Flying drones in proximity to airplanes, helicopters, and airports is both hazardous and illegal. The FAA warns that operators of unauthorized drones can face significant consequences, including fines, criminal charges, and potential jail time. Efforts to regulate and enforce these rules continue as authorities strive to mitigate the threats posed by drone activity in controlled airspace.
