Major air catastrophe over central London avoided by 'pure luck' after drone missed plane with up to 165 passengers on board by just 60 FEET 

  • Airbus A320 nearly collided with a drone just 650ft away from the Shard
  • Plane, which had up to 165 passengers on board, was landing in Heathrow
  • Pilot spotted the drone out of a cockpit window on afternoon of July 18
  • Report said chance played a 'major part' in avoidance of an air disaster

By Stephanie Linning for MailOnline

Published: 19:26 EST, 16 November 2016 | Updated: 13:50 EST, 17 November 2016

A major air disaster was narrowly avoided after a drone came within just 60ft of a passenger plane as it flew over central London.

The A320 aircraft, thought to have some 165 passengers on board, nearly collided with the remote-controlled device while on its final approach to Heathrow.

The pilot spotted the drone, which measured roughly 20in across, out of a cockpit window as the aircraft passed just 650ft to the east of the Shard skyscraper.

The pilot spotted the drone, which measured roughly 20in across, out of a cockpit window as the aircraft was flying just 650ft east of the Shard skyscraper in London, pictured

The crew believe the drone then came over the right wing tip.

A report on the July 18 incident reveals how chance had played a 'major part' in the outcome as there had not been time for the pilot to take any action. 

There are currently no specific regulations limiting the maximum height for the drones that weigh 7kg or less. 

The report states: 'The Board noted that the pilot had estimated the separation to be 20m from the aircraft, at co-altitude, and that there had not been time to take any avoiding action.

It added: 'This incident appeared to be a very near-miss and the drone operator should not have been flying in that location at that altitude.

'The Board considered that the pilot’s estimate of separation, allied to his overall account of the incident, portrayed a situation where a collision had only been narrowly avoided and chance had played a major part.'

The A320 aircraft with up to 165 passengers on board nearly collided with the remote-controlled device while on its final approach to Heathrow on July 18. File image

 A report on the July 18 incident reveals how chance had played a 'major part' in the outcome as there had not been time for the pilot to take any action. File image of the Shard

 There are currently no specific regulations limiting the maximum height for the drones that weigh 7kg or less. Good quality models can be purchased off the shelf for as little as £500

It comes weeks after it was announced drones will be deliberately smashed into passenger jets as part of a radical testing programme triggered by fears of a catastrophe in British skies.

Ministers ordered the tests after a series of near misses, some near major airports.

They have committed more than £250,000 to pay for a private study of what would happen if a drone struck a window or the fuselage of a plane. 

Pilots warn it is only a matter of time before there is a collision and at one stage a close call was being reported every week.

According to the National Air Traffic Service, more than two million drones are now in circulation in Britain.

Good quality models can be purchased off the shelf for as little as £500 and several have been involved in high-profile incidents.

Twenty-three near-misses between aircraft and drones were investigated in just one six month period. Of these 12 were given the most serious rating of risk.

Over the summer there were a number of serious incidents including a near-miss between one and a flight carrying 62 people arriving at Newquay Airport. 

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