UK: Drone flew 'within wingspan' of plane approaching Heathrow

A drone flew within 20 metres of a plane on the approach to Heathrow, while another shocked pilots by appearing at 3,000 metres, a monthly update on near-misses has revealed. Commercial jet pilots reported 2 “category A” incidents, the most serious class of near-miss, involving unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The latest report comes amid concern that drone near-misses are on the rise, potentially posing a threat to recreational and commercial planes. In one case, an Airbus A320 pilot on the approach to Heathrow in October last year spotted a drone within just 20 metres, or “possibly within the wingspan” of the aircraft. Investigators concluded that the drone had flown so close to the passenger jet that “providence had played a major part in the aircraft not colliding”. <br/>