Major air accident averted as drone comes in close range with passenger plane over London

A major air accident was averted when a drone came in close range of a passenger plane, which flew over central London with around 165 passengers.

The A320 aircraft nearly collided with a remote control drone while on its final approach to Heathrow airport, London, reported Daily Mail.

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

The Daily Mail report says that the 18 July 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.

At present, there are no specific regulations that limit the maximum height for drones weighing less than 7kg.

According to Daily Mail, the UK Airprox Board (UKAB) 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.'"