Donald Trump’s jet was nearly hit by what appeared to be a small drone on Sunday night and “the matter is under review” according to Bloomberg. Several people aboard Air Force One noticed the civilian device, which was yellow and black and shaped like a cross, appearing off the right side of the airplane.
Trump was returning from a long weekend at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. He also visited his younger brother, Robert Trump, who passed away on Saturday night in a New York hospital. Trump said after his brother’s death, “we will meet again,” but apparently, the president was spared that meeting after the drone missed the plane.
@realDonaldTrump just landed at Andrews on AF1. Shortly before, while descending,we flew right over a small object, remarkably close to the president’s plane. Resembled a drone though I’m no expert. pic.twitter.com/roDFgpp4XH
— Sebastian Smith (@SebastianAFP) August 16, 2020
The White House Military Office and the Air Force’s 89th Airlift Wing issued a statement on Monday saying they were “aware of the report” and “the matter is under review,” according to the news outlet.
Stay up-to-date with the latest news!
Subscribe and start recieving our daily emails.
The device, although weighing only a few pounds, could have potentially done some damage.
Most civilian drones weigh only a few pounds and probably couldn’t take down a jetliner. But government research suggests the damage could be greater than that from a similar-sized bird, which could shatter a cockpit windshield or damage an engine.”
The FAA receives thousands of detailed reports on drones flying too close to airplanes, and this time, one came eerily close to the executive plane — the very aircraft that will hopefully transport Joe Biden in January of 2021.
The remotely piloted devices are not supposed to fly higher than four hundred feet. Commercial drones became more and more affordable during the last decade while some aviation experts warned that it would be difficult for the government to regulate them to prevent the devices from causing havoc for large planes and helicopters. Civilian drones can cost anywhere from hundreds of dollars to thousands of dollars, and when the small device hits an airplane’s wing, it can create havoc.
Featured image via White House/Flickr
Like what you see here? Join the discussion on Facebook over at Americans For Sanity!
