WILLS COPTER SECONDS FROM DRONE DISASTER
Terror of mid-air 100ft near-miss
PRINCE William’s helicopter narrowly avoided a mid-air drone disaster.
It flew within 100ft of a remote-controlled miniature aircraft and was at “high risk” of a collision, an investigation revealed.
The near-miss in the air ambulance happened 1,900ft above north London last August.
Former RAF Flight Lieutenant William often pilots the Eurocopter 145, but was not in it at the time.
The drone came so close, the crew of two pilots and three medical staff could see the dark, four-bladed “quadcopter”. Ambulance control room staff received a call from the pilot ordering them to call the police.
It is not known who was flying the drone, but it is thought the device was at 400ft, four times its permitted height limit.
Chance
The helicopter, codenamed Anglia Two, was flying at 138mph, covering 200ft a second, and the drone was less than 100ft away – making it seconds from impact.
The UK Airprox Board gave the incident a “Category A” risk – the highest possible. It said: “A collision had only been narrowly avoided and chance had played a major part.
“The drone was being operated over a built-up area without Civil Aviation Authority permission.”
An ambulance service spokeswoman said: “We can confirm that a pilot reported a drone in his proximity on August 26, 2016.
“The Duke of Cambridge was not on shift when the drone incident took place.
“There are strict rules that drone operators must follow and it is important they are aware of their responsibilities for safe operations at all times.”
William will leave his post with East Anglian Air Ambulance this summer and take on more of the Queen’s public duties as he and wife Kate make Kensington Palace their base. The palace has applied to build a twostorey basement to make space for the family.
Prince George will become a pupil at the £6,000-a-term Thomas’s School in Battersea, south London, in September.