SouthernWorldwide.com – A United Airlines flight en route from San Francisco to San Diego experienced a close encounter with a drone shortly before landing on Wednesday morning, according to official reports.
A representative from United Airlines confirmed that Flight 1980 reported a potential drone encounter just moments before its scheduled arrival at San Diego International Airport. The aircraft landed without incident, and passengers were able to disembark at the gate as usual.
The airline spokesperson further stated that a thorough inspection of the aircraft by their maintenance team revealed no signs of damage. This confirmation provided reassurance following the reported close call.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement detailing that the crew of Flight 1980 alerted air traffic control when they were at an altitude of approximately 4,000 feet. They indicated they had observed what they believed to be a drone positioned about 1,000 feet below their aircraft.
Following the report, air traffic control took steps to inform other pilots in the vicinity. However, no further drone sightings were reported by other aircraft, according to the FAA’s statement.
Audio recordings obtained by ATC.com captured one of the United Airlines pilots communicating with air traffic controllers. The pilot can be heard stating, “I believe I just saw like a red small object, like about a thousand feet below us to our right.”
The Boeing 737 aircraft involved in the incident was carrying a total of 49 passengers and six crew members at the time of the sighting. The proximity of the drone, even at a lower altitude, raised concerns among the flight crew.
Operating drones in the vicinity of aircraft and airports is strictly prohibited due to the significant safety risks involved. Drone operators found in violation of these regulations can face severe legal consequences, including criminal charges and potential jail time.
Furthermore, the FAA mandates that privately operated drones must maintain an altitude below 400 feet. Statistics from the FAA indicate a substantial number of drone sightings near airports each month, with the majority of these reports coming from pilots themselves.
In 2025, the FAA received over 1,850 reports of drone sightings in the airspace surrounding airports. Despite the high number of sightings, actual mid-air collisions between drones and aircraft remain exceedingly rare occurrences.
However, instances of drone-related incidents have occurred. Last year, a drone collided with a firefighting aircraft during the Palisades Fire. This incident caused damage that necessitated grounding the plane, highlighting the potential dangers.
In a separate event in 2020, a Los Angeles Police Department helicopter struck a drone while responding to a call. The impact forced the helicopter to make an emergency landing. The operator of the drone was subsequently prosecuted, marking a significant legal precedent as the first criminal case in the United States involving the unsafe operation of a drone.
Another notable incident occurred in 2017 when a drone collided with an Army Blackhawk helicopter near Staten Island, New York. Fortunately, no injuries were reported as a result of that collision.
These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges and the importance of adhering to drone regulations to ensure aviation safety. The FAA continues to work on measures to mitigate the risks associated with drone operations near sensitive airspace.
Kris Van Cleave contributed to this report.
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