A DJI drone came within 20m (65ft) of a passenger plane as it flew in to Gatwick Airport in the summer, an inquiry into near misses has found.
UK Airprox Board (UKAB) said the pilot of the Airbus A320 shouted “drone” when he spotted the device, which was also seen by the co-pilot, on 8 July.
The crew was unable to take evasive action and the risk of collision was “high”, the report said.
It concluded the near-miss was a category A – the highest risk.
The Civil Aviation Authority said it could not identify the airline involved but added the plane could carry up to 179 passengers.
The Airbus was at an altitude of 106m (350ft) and one minute from landing when the drone was spotted.
As well at being flown above the maximum permitted height, the device was also within controlled airspace, UKAB said.
The co-pilot – said to be a drone enthusiast – identified it as a DJI Inspire, it added.
The crew then watched as it “passed down the left side of the aircraft at the same level”.
At its closest point, the drone was level with the aircraft and came within 20m of its wing, the Civil Aviation Authority confirmed.
Had the autopilot still been engaged, the crew believed there was a “very high probability” the aircraft would have struck the drone, investigators found.
The report said the near miss was reported to police after the aircraft landed.
Source: BBC
Well with an inspire at least Hobbyist is not in the mix…. That this is still happening, is not an accident.
I am not sure the altitude restrictions imposed in general in the UK but 350′ Is NOT above the mandated ceiling in the US. Yes Flying in Controlled Airspace is obviously stupid, illegal and dangerous, but that altitude is not in and by itself illegal at least here.
Why is it that we can not throw cockpit cameras in these aircraft? Switches on below a thousand feet. Shoots in HD and high Framerates? This is not rocket science here, You can buy something that at least meets those specs for $60 US. Tie it to an arduino and throw it in a shielded box and you now have proof instead of innuendo or supposition.