United Airlines flight almost hit drone ‘100 feet below us’ in near-collision at Newark

 A  United Airlines jet nearly smashed into a drone as it was landing on the Newark runway Friday, officials said.

The crew narrowly avoided the unmanned aircraft during its descent around 4:20 p.m., according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

“We almost hit a drone,” the pilot can be heard saying in air traffic control audio verified by CNN.

The circular and three-foot-wide device was only “about 100 feet below us.”

Another pilot flying into Newark on a separate plane also reported seeing the drone at roughly 2,000 feet, additional audio shows.

The United Airlines Boeing 737 was carrying 106 passengers and 5 crew members from Key West, Florida.

“United flight 1513 reported a potential drone sighting prior to arriving in Newark. The flight landed safely, and customers deplaned normally at the gate,” United said in a statement.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

The federal agency receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, which can cause dangerous consequences.

Unauthorized operators are subject to fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time, the FAA warned.

https://nypost.com/2026/06/27/us-news/united-airlines-flight-almost-hit-drone-at-newark-airport/