A Virgin Atlantic plane bound for New York nearly crashed with a drone just moments after take-off, an investigation has concluded. Air collision investigators with UK Airprox Board (UKAB) concluded that a Boeing 787 Dreamliner came within 50ft of a “large black drone” just five minutes after it left the runway on September 12 this year.
The plane – which was carrying 264 passengers – was five minutes post-takeoff and had exceeded a speed of 330mph when the near-miss happened, according to the pilot, and reached 9,500ft.
In a report of the incident, UKAB confirmed the drone was being illegally piloted near the plane as it flew over Woodley near Reading, Berkshire.
The organisation’s board concluded that there was a serious risk of a collision, as authorities warn that the chances of similar incidents are increasing. UKAB concluded the near-miss was a Category A incident, indicating a “serious risk of collision” at the time.
The organisation’s report added that the pilot was flying in clear visibility when they noticed a “large black drone ahead which passed directly above the aircraft”.
The drone was flying more than 23 times the UK legal height, currently set by authorities at 400 feet.
While police were informed of the sighting, and it is believed the operator may have deliberately flown the aircraft in the plane’s path, they were never located.
The report concluded that the account from the pilot appeared to suggest there was a “definite risk of collision”.
It stated: “The Board considered that the pilot’s overall account of the incident portrayed a situation where providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed.”
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson told the Daily Mail Online: “We’re aware of reports of a drone flying near our flight, the VS47, travelling from London Heathrow to New York on September 12, 2023.
“The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our number one priority, and we treat incidents such as this incredibly seriously.
“The pilots immediately reported the incident to Air Traffic Control in line with our procedures, and our teams have subsequently informed the relevant safety authorities.”
