Drone was within 15 metres of aircraft

A pilot came within 15 metres of colliding with a drone as it took off from Glasgow airport, according to an inquiry report.

It said there was a “high” risk of collision between the Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft, which are used commercially, and the drone as it took off on 8 September.

The Airprox board report said that the plane and the drone were 100 feet (30 metres) apart vertically and 50 feet (15 metres) horizontally.

It said that as the pilot took off, he “noticed a small black object moving towards the aircraft”.

The report added: “As it got closer he could see it was a drone; it was black and had an object or device attached below. In the space of about three seconds they had narrowly missedit,therewasnotime to take avoiding action. The drone was being flown in the vicinity of an airfield departure lane such that it was endangering other aircraft at that location and altitude.”

The near-miss bears similarities with an incident at Edinburgh Airport in May when a pilot was forced to take evasive action after a drone came within 20 metres of his aircraft.

The maximum length of an articulated lorry normally allowed on UK roads is 16.5 metres.