London Heathrow Runway Temporarily Closed as Drone Comes Within 3 Feet of Finnair A320 Engine

A recent report by the UK Airprox Board highlights a concerning incident where an illegal drone flew within 3 feet of a Finnair Airbus A320’s wing as the aircraft was approaching London Heathrow Airport (LHR) for landing.

The incident occurred on April 8, 2023, when the A320 was flying at 3,000 feet. The pilot observed a round-shaped drone with a purple/turquoise color. The UK Airprox Board noted that two previous aircraft that had landed at LHR also reported sightings of a suspected drone.

Air Traffic Controllers at LHR consulted with the Finnair pilot regarding their descent. The pilot decided to continue the landing as the drone appeared to stay to the right of the centerline. However, the drone unexpectedly flew under the left wing, coming perilously close to the engine. Upon landing, the incident was reported to Air Traffic Control, leading to the temporary closure of the runway. New arrivals were redirected to an alternative runway.

According to the report, the pilot estimated the drone to have come within a range of three to ten feet from the engine. The UK Airprox Board classified the incident as “high risk” and stated that the reported altitude and description of the object indicated a high possibility of it being a drone.

While the report does not specifically mention the aircraft involved, the Mail Online identified it as a Finnair A320 originating from Rome, Italy. Finnair confirmed that the incident occurred during a flight operated by the Finnish airline on behalf of British Airways.

A spokesperson for Finnair expressed concerns about this irresponsible drone activity, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety regulations and the potential risks to air traffic safety and flight operations. The report by the UK Airprox Board was published after a meeting on May 24, 2023.