Drone nearly collides with United Airlines jet at Newark Airport

A United Airlines jet nearly collided with a drone while landing at Newark Airport on Friday, according to officials. The incident occurred around 4:20 p.m., as reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The pilot of the Boeing 737, which was carrying 106 passengers and 5 crew members from Key West, Florida, stated in air traffic control audio, "We almost hit a drone." The drone, described as circular and three feet wide, was approximately 100 feet below the aircraft during its descent. Another pilot approaching Newark also reported sighting the drone at around 2,000 feet. United Airlines confirmed that flight 1513 reported the potential drone sighting before landing safely. The FAA is currently investigating the incident, which is part of a broader concern, as the agency receives over 100 reports of drone sightings near airports each month. Unauthorized drone operators may face fines and criminal charges, including potential jail time, according to the FAA.