United Flight Reports Drone Strike Near San Diego

A United Airlines Boeing 737 reported striking a small, red drone at about 3,000 feet while approaching San Diego International Airport on Wednesday morning, prompting a Federal Aviation Administration investigation.

The aircraft, Flight 1980 from San Francisco, took off around 7:14 a.m. and encountered the object shortly before landing safely at approximately 8:30 a.m. The pilot radioed air traffic control, stating, "We hit a drone at around, probably around 3,000 feet." When asked for details, the crew member added, "It was so small, I couldn't tell. It was red. It was shiny."

United Airlines confirmed in a statement that the flight carried 48 passengers and six crew members. "United Flight 1980 reported a possible drone strike just prior to arriving in San Diego," the airline said. "The flight landed safely, and customers deplaned normally at the gate. Our maintenance team found no damage after thoroughly inspecting the aircraft." No injuries were reported among those on board.

The FAA acknowledged the report and is looking into the incident. An agency spokesperson noted that if a drone was involved, its operator violated federal regulations, which limit recreational drones to...