Federal authorities say a U.S. airliner nearly collided with an airborne drone in March
5/9/2014SAN FRANCISCO — Federal officials say a U.S. jet airliner nearly collided in March with an airborne drone in the sky over Tallahassee, Fla.
Jim Williams of the Federal Aviation Administration’s unmanned aircraft office acknowledged the incident Thursday at a San Francisco drone conference.
Williams cited it as an example of the risks posed by drones.
The near collision was reported to air traffic control on March 22 by the pilot of an American Airlines Group jet as the pilot approached the Tallahassee runway en route from Charlotte, North Carolina.
The pilot said the drone was at an altitude of about 2,300 feet, 5 miles northeast of the airport.
The FAA has investigated the incident, but in a statement released Friday said it was unable to identify the pilot or the drone’s operator.
American Airlines said it was investigating.