United Airlines Boeing 737 avoids drone collision during Newark landing

United Airlines Flight 1513, a Boeing 737 carrying 106 passengers and five crew members from Key West, Florida, reported a close encounter with a drone while approaching Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey on Friday, June 27, 2026. The pilot later said, “We almost hit a drone,” describing the object as circular, about three feet wide, and roughly 100 feet below the aircraft. A United Express GoJet pilot also observed a drone at about 2,000 feet during the same period.

The Federal Aviation Administration opened an investigation into the incident. The aircraft landed safely around 5:30 p.m. ET, and all passengers disembarked normally with no injuries reported. The incident adds to a recent series of drone sightings near U.S. airports—about 100 reports per month, though actual collisions are rare. Authorities are reviewing counter‑UAS technologies and regulatory measures to prevent future near‑misses.