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".
The pilot was able to make a normal and safe landing into Gatwick. The captain later gave a statement to the police.
Aircraft movements at Gatwick Airport were suspended for 19 minutes until a drone assessment could be completed by the Airport Authorities. It stated the crew had reported the drone was observed at approximately 600ft from touchdown on the approach, it had black with yellow markings and had passed 40 yards to the right and approximately 40 feet below.
The crew repeated their view that the drone was a "deliberate obstruction" of the flight.
Hundreds of flights were cancelled at Gatwick Airport in December 2018 following reports of drone sightings close to the runway. Sussex Police described the incident as a "deliberate act" of disruption, using "industrial specification" drones. Tens of thousands of passengers were impacted by the cancellation and diversion of flights.
It is illegal to fly a drone within 1km of an airport or airfield boundary and flying above 400ft (120m) - which increases the risk of a collision with a manned aircraft - is also banned. Endangering the safety of an aircraft is a criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of five years.
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