Drone spotted by airline pilots near Newark airport
NEWARK, N.J. -- Airline pilots at one of the nation's busiest airports reported seeing a drone while attempting to land on Sunday, CBS New York reported.
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said a drone was found on the final approach path to Runway 4 Right at Newark Liberty International Airport between noon and 12:30 p.m.
The drone was spotted by the pilots of four commercial flights, which were between 2,000 and 3,000 feet in the air and between eight and 13 miles from the airport at the time, the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The flights were ExpressJet 3267, an Embraer E145; Northwest Airlink 5837, an Embraer E170; United Airlines 107, a Boeing 767; and United Airlines 1210, a Boeing 737.
None of the flights had to take evasive action and they all landed safely, the FAA said.
Last week alone, there were three reports in as many days of drones near John F. Kennedy International Airport, according to CBS New York.
The FAA noted that even small, hobby-type drones are dangerous to planes, and that it is illegal to operate drones in a way that interferes with manned aircraft. Violations can result in criminal charges and fines of up to $25,000.
The FAA was investigating.