Drone hits British Airways plane approaching Heathrow Airport

[WhiteTara]

Source: bbc

The British Airways flight from Geneva was hit as it approached the London airport at about 12:50 BST 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.

Police said no arrests have been made.

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

Read more: http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-36067591

[Paper Roses]

1. I think all of us know something like this would happen.

My personal opinion: These things present a danger and should not be allowed. In my town last summer a small drone struck a person who was watching the July 4th parade. Out of nowhere. No-one was hurt thankfully. I can't imagine what one of these would do to an airplane.
I also object to the plans of some companies to start drone delivery. I heard that this was the case with Amazon. The sky's are crowded enough without more junk flying around up there.

[dixiegrrrrl]

2. As an aside....

The tv show The Good Wife addressed the issue of drones "spying" on you in your yard/home.
Turns out there is no airspace rule for them.

Lotta case law is gonna be made in the next few years.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

4. Lots of case law already covers "reasonable expectation of privacy", e.g. backyards. . . nt

[Deuce]

7. Yes, that was an interesting episode.

[Land of Enchantment]

3. Depending on where it hits the aircraft a lot of damage--

in an engine similar to a bird strike and would take out the engine; tail stabilizer, rudder would cause loss of control---here check it out....

They need to ban these damn things.

[Land of Enchantment]

5. Moreover--- that is just for commercial aircraft. There are literally

hundreds of small airports all across the US for private planes that would have even more trouble due to the lightness of the aircraft and the materials used to build them. I think a drone could easily demolish the windshield of a Cessna, Piper or Beechcraft so banning them or restricting airspace only near major airports would not help private pilots....

[WhiteTara]

8. I see lots of accidents in the making too

[appalachiablue]

11. !

[Major Nikon]

10. The airspace is restricted around all public use airports

The FAA sponsors a web site and an app that informs operators where the airspace is restricted.

http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/air-space-map/

[enlightenment]

13. It's restricted around the UK airports, too.

Certainly didn't matter to the knob who was flying that drone.

If everyone followed the rules, life would be perfect. They don't. If that thing had gone into an engine, the current philosophical conversation about rules would be a bit different.

[ananda]

6. And if something isn't done about private drones..

.. it won't be the last.

[Chakab]

9. Not surprised to hear about something like this happening. I've actually been expecting it

considering the number of idiots who aim laser pointers at aircraft on a regular basis.

[One_Life_To_Give]

12. And somebody thought Frozen Turkeys in Engines was overtesting?

Sounds to me like those test engineers who shot Frozen Turkeys into running jet engines were just Future-Proofing the product.