'Drone' hits British Airways plane approaching Heathrow Airport

A plane approaching Heathrow Airport is believed to have hit a drone before it landed safely, the Metropolitan Police has said.

The British Airways flight from Geneva was hit as it approached the London airport at about 12:50 on 17 April with 132 passengers and five crew on board.

After landing, the pilot reported an object - believed to be a drone - had struck the front of the Airbus A320.

Aviation police based at Heathrow have launched an investigation but as yet no arrests have been made.

If confirmed, it is believed to be the first incident of its kind in the UK.

A Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) spokesman said it was "totally unacceptable" to fly drones close to airports, and anyone flouting the rules can face "severe penalties, including imprisonment".

Flying a drone near an airport can already be punished with up to five years in prison, and rules also forbid taking them above 400ft (122m) or near buildings or crowds of people.

“Many countries and the relevant international organisations are very concerned about the integration into civil airspace of remotely piloted aircraft or 'drones'”, says Nick Hughes, partner and aviation law specialist at Holman Fenwick Willan LLP in London.

“In the UK, the relevant general regulations applicable to any drone depend on the weight of the drone. Large drones, those that weigh above 150kgs are subject to pan European regulation set out by the European Aviation Safety Agency. Those that are lighter are subject to (UK) Civil Aviation Authority regulation under the Air Navigation Orders (ANOs).

As a "small unmanned aircraft", below 20kgs, the operator must maintain direct visual contact with the aircraft, not fly it at a height exceeding 400 feet above ground level (AGL), nor over or within 150m of any congested area nor an organised open-air assembly of more than 1,000 persons, not within 50m of any vessel, vehicle or structure (nor also under charge of the aircraft operator), nor within 50m of any person. It must also not be used for any commercial purpose.

In the UK, under Art. 138 ANO, it is an offence for any person recklessly or negligently to cause or permit such a drone to endanger any person or property.

The Department for Transport has promised to publish a strategy for unmanned aircraft this year.

The US recently introduced a compulsory registration scheme so any drone recovered from an accident can be traced back to its owner.

In addition, officials could make it mandatory for drones to run geo-fencing software - that would prevent them flying in restricted areas.

The incident follows a warning earlier this year by the head of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) that drones flown by the general public are "a real and growing threat" to civilian aircraft.

Tony Tyler, CEO of IATA called for drone regulations to be put in place before any serious accidents occur. The UK Air Proximity Board - which investigates near-miss incidents in UK airspace - said there have been a number of serious near-misses at UK airports involving drones.

Category A incidents - the most serious - were reported at Stansted, Heathrow, London City and Manchester airports last year.

Drone incidents at UK airports

• 17 April 2016 - A British Airways plane approaching Heathrow is believed to have hit a drone while in midair
• 28 November 2015 - The pilot of an A321 plane narrowly missed a drone hovering at 100ft above a runway at Gatwick Airport
• 30 September 2015 - A small drone helicopter passed within 30ft of the cockpit of an A319 plane while on the approach to Heathrow
• 22 September 2015 - A "quadcopter-type drone" missed the right-hand side of a B777 plane by about 25m while at 2,000ft after it left Heathrow Airport
• 13 September 2015 - A silver drone with a "balloon-like" centre missed an E170 aircraft by about 20m, while the plane was approaching London City Airport over the Thames
• 13 September 2015 - A drone flew over the top of a B737 aircraft while at 4,000ft, missing it by about 5m, shortly after it left Stansted
• 27 August 2015 - A DO328 aircraft flew within 50ft of a drone while approaching Manchester Airport at 2,800ft

Source: The UK Airprox Board