[Sportschosun Reporter Jang Jong-ho] A close call involving an aircraft and a drone occurred at a U.S. airport.
According to U.S. media outlets including NBC, United Airlines Flight 1513, which was landing at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey around 5:30 p.m. local time on the 26th, spotted a drone in the air near the airport.
In released air traffic control recordings, the captain urgently reported to the tower, "We just nearly collided with a drone. It was about 100 feet, or roughly 30 meters, below our aircraft." The controller then asked, "Was it near your current position?" and the captain replied, "Exactly there."
When the controller asked about the drone's color and shape, the captain explained, "It looked roughly circular, and its diameter appeared to be about 3 feet, or around 90 centimeters."
Around the same time, another pilot approaching Newark Airport on a GoJet Airlines flight also told the tower that he had seen a drone at an altitude of about 2,000 feet, or roughly 610 meters, above the airport.
The aircraft was carrying 111 people in total, including 106 passengers and five crew members, and it later landed safely.
In the United States, flying a drone without authorization in controlled airspace such as airports is prohibited under federal law.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), more than 100 drone-related reports are filed each month near airports. The FAA warned that "operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is extremely dangerous and illegal" and that operators who fly without permission could face hefty fines, criminal charges, and even prison terms.
Reporter Jang Jong-ho bellho@sportschosun.com
