A plane on its final approach to one of the UK's busiest airports was at “high risk” of colliding with a drone that passed just 40 feet from the jet in a suspected “deliberate obstruction”. Air traffic controllers at Gatwick were forced to suspend all aircraft movements after the pilot of a A321 plane spotted the drone.
The drone was reported to be passing close to the right-hand side of the cockpit, and was large, black and had an orange/yellow stripe on it, Sussex Live reports. The pilot could not take avoiding action because of the late sighting of the drone, the speed it passed the aircraft and the jet's close proximity to the ground on its approach.
Crew said the drone was positioned in a way that gave them no doubt that it was intentionally flown close to the aircraft. A report issued by the UK Airprox Board states the reported risk of collision was "high".
