A United Airlines pilot reported a close call with a small drone while preparing to land at San Diego International Airport.
The incident highlights the growing safety risks posed by unmanned aircraft operating within controlled airspace near major commercial hubs. Such encounters can force pilots to take evasive action or risk structural damage to the aircraft.
The flight crew was operating a Boeing 737 [2] on a route from San Francisco to San Diego. During the approach to the airport, the pilot observed a drone at an altitude of approximately 3,000 feet [1]. The object was described as a shiny red drone positioned within the aircraft's flight path [3].
Reports on the exact nature of the encounter vary. Some accounts describe the event as a near-miss or a close call [1, 2]. Other reports indicate the aircraft may have struck the drone during the landing process [2, 3].
The Federal Aviation Administration typically investigates such sightings to determine the origin of the drone and whether the operator violated federal airspace regulations. Operating drones in the vicinity of airports is illegal under U.S. law due to the potential for catastrophic collisions.
United Airlines and the FAA have not provided a definitive confirmation on whether physical contact occurred between the Boeing 737 and the drone. The flight crew reported the sighting to air traffic control to ensure the safety of the descent.
“A United Airlines pilot reported a close call with a small drone while preparing to land.”
This incident underscores the persistent challenge regulators face in policing 'rogue' drones in urban corridors. As consumer drone technology becomes more accessible, the risk of incursions into Class B airspace—which surrounds the busiest U.S. airports—increases, necessitating more advanced detection and mitigation tools for aviation authorities.
