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| 'Drone' hits British Airways plane approaching Heathrow Airport | |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A plane approaching Heathrow Airport is believed to have hit a drone before it landed safely, the Metropolitan Police has said. | A plane approaching Heathrow Airport is believed to have hit a drone before it landed safely, the Metropolitan Police has said. |
| The British Airways flight from Geneva was hit as it approached the London airport at about 12:50 BST with 132 passengers and five crew on board. | The British Airways flight from Geneva was hit as it approached the London airport at about 12:50 BST with 132 passengers and five crew on board. |
| After landing, the pilot reported an object - believed to be a drone - had struck the front of the Airbus A320. | After landing, the pilot reported an object - believed to be a drone - had struck the front of the Airbus A320. |
| Aviation police based at Heathrow have launched an investigation. | Aviation police based at Heathrow have launched an investigation. |
| Police said no arrests have been made. | Police said no arrests have been made. |
| If confirmed, it is believed to be the first incident of its kind in the UK. | If confirmed, it is believed to be the first incident of its kind in the UK. |
| A British Airways spokesman said: "Our aircraft landed safely, was fully examined by our engineers and it was cleared to operate its next flight." | A British Airways spokesman said: "Our aircraft landed safely, was fully examined by our engineers and it was cleared to operate its next flight." |
| The airline will give the police "every assistance with their investigation", the spokesman added. | The airline will give the police "every assistance with their investigation", the spokesman added. |
| A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman said it was "totally unacceptable" to fly drones close to airports, and anyone flouting the rules can face "severe penalties, including imprisonment". | A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman said it was "totally unacceptable" to fly drones close to airports, and anyone flouting the rules can face "severe penalties, including imprisonment". |
| Steve Landells, from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), said it had been "only a matter of time before we had a drone strike". He called for greater enforcement of existing rules. | Steve Landells, from the British Airline Pilots Association (Balpa), said it had been "only a matter of time before we had a drone strike". He called for greater enforcement of existing rules. |
| Are drones dangerous or harmless fun? | Are drones dangerous or harmless fun? |
| Drones pose 'real threat' to civil aviation | Drones pose 'real threat' to civil aviation |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| Leo Kelion, Technology editor | Leo Kelion, Technology editor |
| Flying a drone near an airport can already be punished with up to five years in prison, and rules also forbid taking them above 400ft (122m) or near buildings and crowds of people. | Flying a drone near an airport can already be punished with up to five years in prison, and rules also forbid taking them above 400ft (122m) or near buildings and crowds of people. |
| But the latest incident will only add to the pressure for further steps to be taken. | But the latest incident will only add to the pressure for further steps to be taken. |
| The US recently introduced a compulsory registration scheme so any drone recovered from an accident can be traced back to its owner. | The US recently introduced a compulsory registration scheme so any drone recovered from an accident can be traced back to its owner. |
| In addition, officials could make it mandatory for drones to run geo-fencing software - that would prevent them flying in restricted areas. | In addition, officials could make it mandatory for drones to run geo-fencing software - that would prevent them flying in restricted areas. |
| The Department for Transport has promised to publish a strategy for unmanned aircraft this year. | The Department for Transport has promised to publish a strategy for unmanned aircraft this year. |
| And pilots have also called for the DoT to fund tests into what would happen if a drone got sucked into an engine or crashed into a plane's windscreen. | And pilots have also called for the DoT to fund tests into what would happen if a drone got sucked into an engine or crashed into a plane's windscreen. |
| Last month, the British Airline Pilots Association noted that while the threat of bird strikes had been well researched there was little data about how much damage a drone could cause a plane. | Last month, the British Airline Pilots Association noted that while the threat of bird strikes had been well researched there was little data about how much damage a drone could cause a plane. |
| 'Severe penalties' | 'Severe penalties' |
| The incident follows a warning earlier this year by the head of the International Air Transport Association that drones flown by the general public are "a real and growing threat" to civilian aircraft. | The incident follows a warning earlier this year by the head of the International Air Transport Association that drones flown by the general public are "a real and growing threat" to civilian aircraft. |
| Tony Tyler called for drone regulations to be put in place before any serious accidents occur. | Tony Tyler called for drone regulations to be put in place before any serious accidents occur. |
| The UK Air Proximity Board - which investigates near-miss incidents in UK airspace - said there have been a number of serious near-misses at UK airports involving drones. | The UK Air Proximity Board - which investigates near-miss incidents in UK airspace - said there have been a number of serious near-misses at UK airports involving drones. |
| Category A incidents - the most serious - were reported at Stansted, Heathrow, London City and Manchester airports last year. | Category A incidents - the most serious - were reported at Stansted, Heathrow, London City and Manchester airports last year. |
| Drone incidents at UK airports | Drone incidents at UK airports |
| Source: The UK Airprox Board | Source: The UK Airprox Board |