This afternoon a British Airways Airbus A320 registered G-EUYP has been hit by a drone during landing at London Heathrow airport on runway 27L.
The flight BA727 – originating from Geneva Airport – carried 132 passengers and 5 crew members. A metropolitan police spokesperson told “The Evening Standard” that the pilot believed that a drone had struck the aircraft.
A British Airways spokesman told the BBC: “Our aircraft landed safely, was fully examined by our engineers and it was cleared to operate its next flight.” The aircraft suffered only light damage on the nose cone.
No arrests have been made and enquiries continue.
A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman told the BBC it is “totally unacceptable” to fly drones close to airports, and anyone flouting the rules can face “severe penalties, including imprisonment.”
Officers are currently speaking to a pilot who has reported a drone flying very close to his aircraft on approach to Heathrow. 1/2 CAD1
— Aviation Policing (@MPSHeathrow) April 17, 2016
2/2 This is dangerous, it is also a crime. Please be aware of the rules before you start flying a drone. https://t.co/jMiDJkJb6Y
— Aviation Policing (@MPSHeathrow) April 17, 2016
