The pilot of a passenger plane reported seeing a “flying saucer” feet away from their plane as it came in to land.
The sighting of the suspected drone was highlighted in a report into the incident in April that took place as an Airbus jet prepared to touch down at Gatwick Airport, the Sun reported.
A report by investigators at the UK Airprox Board stated: “The A319 pilot reports that descending, turning left, a disc or ‘flying saucer’ type suspected drone was seen flying very close in the opposite direction, at the same level to them, past their right wing.
“Approximately 100-300ft from their aircraft wing. The object looked like a disc with darker markings on the rim, a suspected possible drone but not sure.
“It was very close to the aircraft, but no evasive action was required as they were in a turn already.”
An "airprox" is a situation in which, in the opinion of a pilot or air traffic services personnel, the distance between aircraft as well as their relative positions and speed have been such that the safety of the aircraft involved may have been compromised.
The UK Airprox Board's primary role is to review reported such incidents to help improve air safety.
The board ruled in this case that the safety of the aircraft had been “reduced”.
A second drone incident also occurred in April at London’s Heathrow Airport.
The board stated: “The A321 pilot reports that, whilst in a left turn on to base leg at LHR (over Marlow), a drone was witnessed to fly down the left-hand-side of the aircraft at close enough proximity to see details such as the colour, shape and individual props spinning.”
Airprox officials ruled: “The board considered that providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed.”
Frequent civilian drone incursions are a major problem for UK airports.
In 2018 an unidentified drone flying above Gatwick Airport in the UK forced the suspension of operations for more than 36 hours. Over 1,000 flights were grounded, cancelled, or diverted, and around 140,000 passengers were left stranded. The disruption caused by the incident cost an estimated £50 million.
