Was Making An Approach Into Love Field In Dallas

The pilot of a Virgin America flight making an approach into Dallas' Love Field Tuesday night reported seeing a UAV climbing to an altitude above his aircraft.

Television station KXAS reports that Dallas Police were alerted by the tower at Love Field that the pilot of Virgin Flight 769 arriving from LaGuardia said he saw the UAV as they overflew the 19-story Crescent Hotel.

The Airbus A319 was flying at about 400 feet AGL at the time of the sighting, and the UAV was climbing to about 600 feet.

The airliner's flight crew reported seeing the red and green lights of the small aircraft over the runway before it climbed to about 200 feet above them as they approached runway 31R, according to FAA Mid-States Public Affairs Manager Lynn Lunsford. "The small aircraft should not have been in the air at all without permission from the Love Field tower," Lunsford said. "This applies to all flights within five miles of any airport."

Dallas police dispatched a helicopter to the area to search for the UAV, but were unable to find it. The operator has not yet been located, according to the report.

The Dallas Police tweeted an image of the runway (shown) with the message "Checked final apch @DallasLoveField for a drone at airplane altitude. Please use drones responsibly & in safe areas!"

FMI: www.dallaspolice.net