United Airlines Flight Lands Safely in San Diego After Reported Drone Encounter; No Damage Found

SAN DIEGO — A United Airlines flight arriving from San Francisco landed safely at San Diego International Airport on Wednesday morning following conflicting reports of a mid-air encounter with a drone.

The Incident United Flight 1980, a Boeing 737 carrying 48 passengers and six crew members, departed San Francisco International Airport at 7:14 a.m. During its approach to San Diego around 8:30 a.m., the flight crew alerted air traffic control to a potential collision with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).

According to cockpit audio recordings, a crew member initially stated, "We hit a drone at around, probably around 3,000 feet," describing the object as small, red, and shiny.

Conflicting Reports and Clarification While the airline's preliminary statement mentioned a "possible drone strike," United Airlines later issued a revised statement. The company confirmed that a thorough post-flight inspection conducted by maintenance teams found no evidence of impact or damage to the aircraft.

"There's no indication that the aircraft struck the drone or vice-versa," a United spokesperson stated. Customers deplaned normally at the gate following the safe landing.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided further clarification, stating the crew believed they saw a drone approximately 1,000 feet below them while the jet was at an altitude of 4,000 feet. Air traffic control subsequently alerted other pilots in the vicinity, though no further sightings were reported.

Federal Investigation The FBI’s San Diego field office confirmed Wednesday afternoon that it is investigating the reports of an unauthorized drone flying approximately 12 miles from the airport.

"While our policy is to neither confirm nor deny investigations, we are working closely with our law enforcement partners to evaluate the situation," the FBI said in a statement, adding that there are currently no safety concerns for the public.

Under FAA regulations, drones are strictly prohibited from flying above 400 feet without specific authorization and are barred from restricted airspace near airports. Unauthorized operations that interfere with commercial aviation can lead to significant federal fines and criminal charges.