SAN DIEGO – The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched an investigation after the crew of a United Airlines flight reported a potential mid-air collision with a drone while on final approach to San Diego International Airport on Wednesday morning.
United Flight 1980, a Boeing 737-800 (registration N14219) arriving from San Francisco, was approximately 3,000 to 4,000 feet in the air when the pilots encountered a small object. Despite the reported impact, the aircraft landed safely at 8:28 a.m. local time.
“Red and Shiny”
Air traffic control (ATC) recordings captured the moment the pilots reported the incident. According to the audio, a pilot described seeing a small, “red and shiny” object.
“I believe I just saw like a red small object… about 1,000 feet below us to our right,” the pilot initially radioed to the tower. Minutes later, the crew updated their report, stating they believed the aircraft had actually made contact with the device. “We hit a drone at around 3,000 feet,” the pilot informed the dispatcher, describing the object as moving “so slow.”
Safety and Inspection
Upon landing, the aircraft was met by maintenance teams who conducted a thorough inspection of the Boeing 737’s fuselage and engines.
“United flight 1980 reported a possible drone strike just prior to arriving in San Diego,” United Airlines said in a statement. “The flight landed safely, and customers deplaned normally at the gate. Our maintenance team found no damage after thoroughly inspecting the aircraft.”
The aircraft was cleared for service shortly after and was able to continue its next scheduled leg to Houston.
Illegal Operation
The incident has raised serious safety concerns, as the reported altitude of 3,000 feet is far above the legal limit for consumer drones. FAA regulations strictly prohibit drone flights above 400 feet without specific authorization. Furthermore, operating drones near flight paths or major airports like San Diego (SAN) is a federal offense.
The FAA continues to investigate the sighting. While the agency confirmed the report, they noted that air traffic control alerted other pilots in the area, but no additional sightings were reported. If the drone operator is identified, they could face significant fines and potential criminal charges.
