Drone strikes British Airways flight on approach to Heathrow Airport

A British Airways flight carrying 132 passengers and five crew members was hit by a drone as it approached London's Heathrow Airport Sunday afternoon.

The pilot said an object — believed to be a drone — had struck the Airbus A320 as it arrived at the London hub from Geneva, Sky News reported. The flight, BA727, landed safely at Heathrow's Terminal 5.

British Airways said the aircraft was checked by engineers and cleared and cleared to make its next scheduled flight. Sky News reported that London's Metropolitan Police were investigating the incident and no arrests had been made. 

"Safety and security are always our first priority and we will give the police every assistance with their investigation," a British Airways spokesperson said.

The strike is the latest in a string of incidents involving drones and aircraft over British airspace. A report released last month recorded 23 near misses between drones and aircraft between April and October 2015. 

"Frankly it was only a matter of time before we had a drone strike given the huge numbers being flown around by amateurs who don't understand the risks and the rules," Steve Landells of the British Airline Pilots Association told Sky News. 

The UK Civil Aviation Authority's so-called "drone code" requires the unmanned craft to be kept away from planes and airports, and not be flown above 400 feet.
 

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