Drone barely misses airline over Trinidad

Authorities in the US northeast are clearly not the only ones concerned with drones operating illegally in the US as the civil aviation authority in Trinidad, Wednesday said the nation could have awakened to a major air disaster if a low flying drone had made actual contact with a commercial airline in local airspace on Dec. 8.

Releasing details of the near miss, the authority said in a statement that a commercial jet aircraft on its way to land at the Piarco International Airport had encountered a low flying drone which had come within 20 feet of the left wingtip of the aircraft in an area just south of Port of Spain, the capital.

The authority described the incident as “reckless and a very serious threat to the safety of the flight,” reminding everyone, drone operators especially, that such unmanned aircraft should not exceed 400 feet in altitude. “The use of an unmanned aircraft system with the intent to disrupt or endanger civil aviation or any public or private property comes with a fine of $350, 000 (US$50,000) and imprisonment for five years,” it said.

The jet was flying at 3,500 feet and so was the drone as the two came within 20 feet of each other. It is unclear if the crew had reported the incident. The authority said it is working with police in Trinidad to investigate the incident, which could have had catastrophic consequences for aviation and safety on people on the ground.

Most Caribbean Community countries have strict regulations as to the use of drones but also exist with little ability to regulate them and track down errant owners and operators, officials say. Drones are being used in increased numbers in the agriculture sector to fertilize crops and for other functions.