A British Airways A320 aircraft landing at London Heathrow airport on Sunday April 17, was hit by a drone before it landed safely. A British Airways spokesman said that the aircraft had landed safely and after it had been fully examined by BA engineers, it was cleared to operate its next flight. The police are investigating the incident although no arrests have been made.
James Stamp, global head of aviation, at KPMG, said: “People who fly drones in controlled airspace are potentially putting lives in danger, and should be subject to the strongest possible sanctions available under the law. A number of practical steps should be taken, including requiring drones to be registered, tougher penalties for irresponsible behaviour, and technology based solutions that will prevent the drones entering restricted airspace in the first place. More research is also required into the potential impact of collisions because, while the impact of bird-strikes has been well researched, the impact of drone impacts is less well understood.”