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Drone in 'near-miss' with air ambulance | Drone in 'near-miss' with air ambulance |
(about 1 hour later) | |
An air ambulance narrowly avoided being hit by a drone, a chief pilot has said. | An air ambulance narrowly avoided being hit by a drone, a chief pilot has said. |
The remote-controlled craft came within 10ft (3m) of the helicopter, which was returning to its base at Nostell, Wakefield. | The remote-controlled craft came within 10ft (3m) of the helicopter, which was returning to its base at Nostell, Wakefield. |
Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) said the drone was being flown at an illegal height of 1,300ft (396m). | Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) said the drone was being flown at an illegal height of 1,300ft (396m). |
It said a collision was only avoided thanks to "the vigilance of our front-seat paramedic" and "the rapid reaction of our pilot". | It said a collision was only avoided thanks to "the vigilance of our front-seat paramedic" and "the rapid reaction of our pilot". |
YAA Chief Pilot Steve Waudby said the near-miss, at about 18:50 BST on Wednesday, "put the lives of our crew in extreme danger". | YAA Chief Pilot Steve Waudby said the near-miss, at about 18:50 BST on Wednesday, "put the lives of our crew in extreme danger". |
Crew members were returning from Bradford when they spotted the drone, the charity said. | Crew members were returning from Bradford when they spotted the drone, the charity said. |
It went underneath the helicopter when the ambulance pilot lifted high into the air to avoid it. | It went underneath the helicopter when the ambulance pilot lifted high into the air to avoid it. |
"The consequences don't bear thinking about if a direct strike had occurred," said Mr Waudby. | "The consequences don't bear thinking about if a direct strike had occurred," said Mr Waudby. |
"We'd be telling a very different story today if it had." | "We'd be telling a very different story today if it had." |
He said it was "ironic" that the charity had spent most of the day working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on a drone awareness film. | He said it was "ironic" that the charity had spent most of the day working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on a drone awareness film. |
Mr Waudby said the drone was being flown at more than three times the permitted height of 400ft (120m). | Mr Waudby said the drone was being flown at more than three times the permitted height of 400ft (120m). |
He appealed to the operator of the "very, very distinctive" device to come forward and said that police had been informed. | He appealed to the operator of the "very, very distinctive" device to come forward and said that police had been informed. |
The CAA said it was awaiting a report from the air ambulance operator. | The CAA said it was awaiting a report from the air ambulance operator. |
You may also be interested in: | |
The Drone Code: | The Drone Code: |
Source: dronesafe | Source: dronesafe |
According to figures from the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), which investigates near-misses with aircraft, there were 125 involving drones reported in 2018, up from 93 in 2017. | According to figures from the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), which investigates near-misses with aircraft, there were 125 involving drones reported in 2018, up from 93 in 2017. |
In July, flights into and out of Leeds Bradford Airport were halted for about 45 minutes after a drone was spotted nearby. | In July, flights into and out of Leeds Bradford Airport were halted for about 45 minutes after a drone was spotted nearby. |
Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. | Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. |