Drone spotted in path of American Airlines flight approaching Miami International Airport

Plane was 1 to 2 miles from end of runway, FAA says

MIAMI – A drone was spotted Wednesday morning in the path of an American Airlines flight that was approaching Miami International Airport, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Kathleen Bergen said.

Bergen said Flight 1317, which departed from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago, was 1 to 2 miles from the end of the runway when the crew spotted the drone.

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The Boeing 737 did not take evasive action, Bergen said.

The FAA is investigating the incident.

Miami-Dade police were also asked to assist in finding the person who was manning the drone, but police said they did not find anything or anyone in the area.

The plane landed without incident at the airport at 11:18 a.m.

"Today's incident is yet another example of the danger drones pose to the traveling public," U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., said. "Finding a way to implement the technology needed to prevent this kind of dangerous situation near our nation's airports will be one of my top priorities as we begin work on a bill to reauthorize the FAA in the coming weeks."

Nelson is the top Democrat on the Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee, which oversees the FAA.

American Airlines spokeswoman Alexis Aran Coello said 113 passengers, one infant and six crew members were on board the plane at the time.

She said the drone never came into contact with the plane.


About the Author:

Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.