A passenger aircraft came within metres of a catastrophic collision with a drone after taking off from Heathrow Airport. The Airbus A320 was flying at 9,000ft in May when a triangular device, measuring at least 2-3 metres, completely filled the cockpit windscreen.
Both the Captain and First Officer witnessed the terrifying near-miss, with the investigation stating: "There was no appreciable separation vertical or horizontal." The device passed overhead within approximately 10 metres of the aircraft, prompting officials to conclude that "providence had played a major part in the incident and/or a definite risk of collision had existed."
Growing aviation threat
The incident follows another serious near-miss in January, when a drone came within 10-20 metres of striking a Boeing 737 during its descent to Gatwick Airport. The Captain spotted a black object ahead with "no time to take avoiding action," receiving the highest A-rating risk category from aviation authorities.
A suspected drone had been spotted near London City Airport shortly before the Heathrow incident, highlighting the increasing threat to major aviation hubs across the UK.
Military innovation responds
The Army has successfully tested a revolutionary weapon system designed to counter the growing drone threat. The Radiofrequency Directed Energy Weapon (RF DEW) uses high-frequency radio waves to destroy vital electronic components, forcing drones to crash or fail mid-flight.
Defence minister Maria Eagle hailed the British-made technology as a "game-changer" following extensive trials at a Welsh firing range. The weapon can target drones up to one kilometre away and engage multiple targets simultaneously.
Cost-effective defence solution
Each shot from the RF DEW costs just 10p, making it an economical complement to existing defence systems. Military personnel have successfully tracked and defeated over 100 drones during testing, demonstrating the weapon's effectiveness against unmanned threats.
The government has invested £40 million in the technology's research and development, supporting 135 jobs while addressing the escalating security challenge posed by increasing drone usage across the UK.
Sources used: "WalesOnline", "Mirror" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
