Says Aircraft Was Within 10 Feet Of His Boeing 777 At Night

The pilot of a British Airways Boeing 777 departing from Heathrow airport last November reported that he saw a UAV pass within 10 feet of his fully-loaded airplane as he passed through 6,000 feet. The only reason he knew it was there, the pilot said was that it was illuminated by the plane's landing lights.

The U.K. newspaper The Mirror reports that the alert was included in a report stemming from the investigation of six recent "near misses"  between manned aircraft and UAVs analyzed by the U.K. Airprox Board. Four of those occurred near Heathrow. Two, including the one with the Boeing 777, were classified as "Category A", which is the highest category that does not involve a collision.

In the report, the UK Airprox Board said that both the captain and first officer reported seeing "a bright light pass quickly and very close to the aircraft, down the left side.

"There was no prior indication or warning of the object, nor would any seem to have been possible, and therefore no opportunity for the pilot to increase separation prior to the closest point of approach.

"Members therefore agreed unanimously that a collision had been avoided purely by providence."

(Image from Airprox Board report)

FMI: Ful Report