Passengers aboard a plane with 106 individuals had a frighteningly close encounter when the aircraft came within approximately 100 feet of a drone while preparing to land. The incident occurred involving United Airlines Flight 1513 as it was approaching Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey following its journey from Key West, Florida on Friday.

During air traffic control communication, the pilots mentioned, “We almost hit a drone,” describing the object as circular, about three feet wide, and positioned “approximately 100 feet below us.” Despite the scare, the Boeing 737, carrying 106 passengers and five crew members, managed to land safely around 5:30 pm with no reported injuries.

United Airlines released a statement confirming the potential drone sighting by Flight 1513 before landing in Newark. The flight concluded without issues, and passengers disembarked normally at their designated gate. Subsequently, another pilot arriving at Newark also reported a drone sighting at approximately 2,000 feet, as per air traffic control communications.

Following the incident, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initiated an investigation into the matter. The FAA routinely receives over 100 reports monthly regarding drones operating in proximity to airports. Operating a drone within controlled airspace without proper authorization is unlawful in the United States and may result in severe penalties, including criminal charges.