Skip to main content

Boeing 737 passenger jet damaged. Possibly hit by drone before landing

Crew members said that they heard a “pretty loud bang” shortly before landing. In photos from the local press, significant damage to the nose of the Boeing 737 passenger jet is visible. Grupo Aeromexico SAB started an investigation whether a drone had indeed collided with the passenger jet as it was approaching its destination in Tijuana, Mexico.

Boeing 737 passenger jet may have collided with a drone

The collision took place on Wednesday, as flight 773 from Guadalajara approached its destination in Tijuana, Mexico. Photos from the local press clearly show the nose of the Boeing 737-800 passenger jet damaged.

According to crew members of the Boeing 737 passenger jet a “pretty loud bang” was heard as the jet approached its destination.

“The exact cause is still being investigated,” Aeromexico said in a statement, according to Bloomberg. “The aircraft landed normally and the passengers’ safety was never compromised.”

The growing popularity of drones

With the growing popularity of drones, the number of drone incidents has risen as well. Many fear that drones, flown close to airports or at high altitudes, can be a grave danger to manned aircraft, especially commercial passenger jets. Since we have launched DroneDJ over one year ago we have seen one drone hitting a military helicopter close to Staten Island, NY, a drone collision with a turboprop in Canada, a very close call with a helicopter, a drone looping over a commercial airplane and a number of other drone incidents.

Most countries, the U.S. included, prohibit flying drones close to airports and above a 400 feet elevation to reduce the risk of drones and manned aircraft colliding. Unfortunately, though, the number of drone incidents keeps growing. Even though this latest collision with a Boeing 737 passenger jet has not been officially confirmed yet as a drone collision, the lack of any visible blood and feathers might indicate that an unmanned aircraft indeed was involved.

Fortunately, the Boing 737 passenger jet proceeded to land safely atGeneral Abelardo L Rodriguez International Airport and nobody was harmed.

Increase in drone incidents

Bloomberg reports that according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) there has been a dramatic increase in the number of safety reports involving drones in recent years. Through June this year, 6,000 drone sighting by pilots and airline crews have been reported.

So far the only two confirmed drone collisions have been the one with the military helicopter close to Staten Island, NY and one with a turboprop carrying six passengers near Quebec on October 12th, 2017. Both of these collisions did not result in any loss of life or other injuries.

Various studies have been performed to estimate that damage that might occur as a result from a drone strike. Based on a 2017 study, the FAA concluded that a drone would cause more damage to an airplane than a bird of similar size because of heavy metal parts such as batteries and motors. The study concluded that significant damage to windshields, wings and tail surfaces was possible but that small consumer drones would probably not cause catastrophic damage. It seems that this possible drone collision with a Boeing 737 passenger jet confirms that as it proceeded to land safely.

Please fly safely and responsibly. Go to the FAA website if you want to learn more about the rules and regulations that apply to all drone pilots. Or check out ‘Buzzy the Drone’ if you want to teach your kids.

STAY IN TOUCH!

If you’d like to stay up to date with all the latest drone news, scoops, rumors and reviews, then follow us on TwitterFacebookYouTubeInstagram or sign up for our email newsletter DroneRise, that goes out every weekday morning at 6 am.

Buy your next drone through directly from manufacturers, such as DJIParrotYuneec or retailers like AmazonB&HBestBuy or eBay. By using our links, we will make a small commission, but it will not cost you anything extra. Thank you for helping DroneDJ grow!

Photo: AFAC Aviacao

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading DroneDJ — experts who break news about DJI and the wider drone ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow DroneDJ on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Haye Kesteloo Haye Kesteloo

Haye Kesteloo is the Editor in Chief and Main Writer at DroneDJ, where he covers all drone related news and writes product reviews. He also contributes to the other sites in the 9to5Mac group such as; 9to5Mac, 9to5Google, 9to5Toys and Electrek. Haye can be reached at haye@dronedj.com or @hayekesteloo