Pilots flying to one of the busiest airports in the U.S. saw a drone on Sunday, Aug. 9. Officials from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the drone was spotted on the final approach way to Runway 4 Right at the Newark Liberty International Airport.
The said drone, seen at around 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m., adds to the numerous unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that have been spotted near airports recently.
"Drone activity reported left side," warned an air traffic controller at the time. The warning was recorded by the audio system of the air traffic control center.
Pilots from commercial flights ExpressJet 3267, Northwest Airlink 5837, United Airlines 107 and United Airlines 1210, which were then flying at an altitude of 2,000 to 3,000 feet and were approximately 8 to 13 miles from the international airport, were the ones to find the wandering drone, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported.
The flights landed successfully at the airport. Although the pilots did not think that significant interventions were warranted, the people present at the airport at that time became anxious.
The reasoning behind having to fly drones in close proximity to airports is just hard to understand, says Ray Gonzalez from Holmdel, New Jersey. "I just think it's probably stupid; people doing stupid things."
For others, such obvious and increasingly rampant actions may signify the need for stricter rules, especially since drones may provide either help or hazard.
Earlier this month, three reports of drone sightings near the John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport were received. With this, the FAA wants to remind the public that small drones used for hobbies and recreation may pose great danger to major aircraft.
Operating drones that can disturb manned aircraft is prohibited by law. Anyone who is found to violate the said rule will be required to pay $1,000 to $25,000 in fines.
More intense interventions are planned and are being implemented to counter the actions of people flying these harmful drones close to airports, says Richard A. Brown, Queens District Attorney, after the incidents at the JFK airport.
Photo: Jacinta Iluch Valero | Flickr
