United Airlines pilot reports possible drone strike 3,000 feet over San Diego

"The pilot reported to the tower that the plane had possibly hit a drone while flying at about 3,000 feet. The pilot tells ground control that it happened on the 'base leg' of the flight, generally when the plane flies perpendicular to the runway as it prepares to land."

"Minutes earlier, the pilot radioed in to staff at the tower, SoCal Approach, asking if a drone was near that location. 'Not that I'm aware,' the controller responds. 'I believe I just saw like a red small object...about 1000 feet below us to our right,' the pilot says."

"A spokesperson for the FAA said it is aware of the report and is investigating. Pilots are prohibited from operating drones above 400 feet altitude unless they have authorization from the Federal Aviation Administration."

"It was not immediately clear if the drone actually collided with the aircraft. The airline's maintenance team found no damage after thoroughly inspecting the aircraft."

A United Airlines pilot reported a possible drone encounter while landing at San Diego International Airport. The incident occurred at approximately 3,000 feet during the approach phase of flight 1980 from San Francisco. The pilot described the drone as a small, shiny red object. The FAA is investigating the report, as drone operations above 400 feet without authorization are prohibited. The aircraft landed safely with no damage reported after inspection.

Read at Los Angeles Times