Small Aircraft Was Flying Near London Luton Airport

The U.K. Airprox Board has released a report on a near-collision between an A320 departing from London Luton Airport and a drone on May 6. The drone was reportedly within 10-20 feet of the airliner.

According to the report, the A320 pilot reports departing London Luton when the Captain saw a drone in the 2 o’clock position that passed about 10-20ft above and down the right-hand side of the aircraft. The Captain commented that there was insufficient time to maneuver out of the way, but he also assessed that it would not hit aircraft.

The cause of the incident was listed as the drone being flown in the vicinity of an airfield SID and above the VLOS limit such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location and altitude. The Board agreed that the incident was therefore best described as the drone was flown into conflict with the A320.

The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account of the incident portrayed a situation where providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed.

(Source: U.K. Airprox Board. Image from file)

FMI: www.airproxboard.org.uk/Reports-and-analysis/Monthly-summaries/2018/Monthly-Meeting-May-2018/