United Pilot Reports Near-Miss With Drone During Newark Landing

A United Airlines pilot reported that his aircraft narrowly avoided colliding with a drone while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday evening, describing the incident as an alarming close call.

“We almost hit a drone,” the pilot can be heard telling air traffic control in audio verified by CNN. He described the device as circular, roughly three feet in diameter, and said it passed “about 100 feet below us” as the plane descended for landing.

The Boeing 737, carrying 106 passengers and five crew members, had originated from Key West, Florida, and touched down safely at approximately 5:30 p.m. Passengers deplaned normally at the gate, United confirmed in a statement.

Around the same time, another pilot flying a United Express service operated by GoJet Airlines also reported spotting a drone at roughly 2,000 feet while inbound to Newark, according to air traffic control recordings.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records roughly 100 drone sightings per month near U.S. airports, even though federal regulations prohibit operating drones in controlled airspace or near manned aircraft without explicit authorization. The repeated violations highlight growing concerns over unauthorized drone activity near critical flight paths, especially as commercial drone use expands.

“This incident is a reminder of the risks drones pose to passenger aviation,” said aviation safety analysts. “Even a small drone can cause catastrophic damage if ingested into an engine or strikes a cockpit windshield.”

CNN has reached out to the FAA, GoJet Airlines, and Newark Liberty International Airport for further comment.