Moment United Airlines pilot reports possible collision with drone is captured in air traffic control audio

WorldCars
30 Apr 2026 • 9:19 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

Moment United Airlines pilot reports possible collision with drone is captured in air traffic control audio

  • A United Airlines flight reportedly collided with a drone while descending towards San Diego International Airport on Wednesday, 29 April.
  • United Flight 1980, carrying 48 passengers and six crew members, struck a small, 'shiny, red' drone hovering at 3,000ft.
  • The pilot described the drone as too small to identify its specific style or number of engines.
  • The aircraft landed safely, and all passengers disembarked without incident.
  • A thorough inspection by the airline's maintenance team confirmed that the aircraft sustained no damage.

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