A passenger aircraft might have collided with a drone for the first time

The possibility of planes and drones colliding have been present ever since these remote-controlled machines have taken to the air. Unfortunately, something did happen recently in London. The Metropolitan Police in London are investigating a possible midair collision between a British Airways plane that was on the approach to Heathrow Airport and a drone, marking the first time a drone and a major airline have collided. At 12:50 p.m. on Sunday, Flight 727 pilot reported to the police that he believed a drone struck his Airbus A320, which was en route to London from Geneva, Switzerland. The aircraft was hit in the front but sustained no damage and was able to land safely. It carried 132 passengers and five crew members at the time.

"It's totally unacceptable to fly drones close to airports and anyone flouting the rules can face severe penalities including imprisonment," said a UK Civil Authority spokesperson in a statement. "Anyone operating a drone must do so responsibly and observe all relevant rules and regulations. The rules for flying drones are designed to keep all airspace users safe." This incident brings to mind the necessity for creating new regulations around the world regarding flying drones in different areas and situations.

Source: The Verge