Drone Collides With Skyjet Flight

A drone collided with a passenger aircraft above Quebec City Jean Lesage International Airport Thursday.

The plane sustained minor damage and no one was injured in the incident. However, Canada's Transport Minister told CBC News that the collision could have been "catastrophic."

The Skyjet flight was carrying eight passengers when it was struck by the small drone roughly 1,500 feet above the airport. The plane landed without incident.

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"This is the first time a drone has hit a commercial aircraft in Canada and I am extremely relieved that the aircraft only sustained minor damage and was able to land safely," Canada's Minister of Transport, Marc Garneau, said in a statement Sunday.

"Transport Canada is monitoring the situation and is in contact with its transportation partners including Skyjet, the Jean Lesage International Airport and NAV CANADA. My department is in contact with the Service de police de la Ville de Quebec and we will cooperate with the Transportation Safety Board should they decide to investigate." 

The drone operator, in this case, was in violation of the country's regulations, which require drones to be flown at least 3.4 miles from an airport.

Transport Canada has received nearly 1,600 reports of drone incidents this year. Of those, only about 8 percent have been deemed aviation safety concerns. 

"Although the vast majority of drone operators fly responsibly, it was our concern for incidents like this that prompted me to take action and issue interim safety measures restricting where recreational drones could be flown," added Garneau. "I would like to remind drone operators that endangering the safety of an aircraft is extremely dangerous and a serious offense."

Drone operators who violate Canadian Aviation Regulations are subject to fines up to $25,000 and potential jail time.

READ MORE: REPORT: Drones Near Airports Continue to Be a Dangerous Problem

Last year, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration finalized rules for the commercial use of drones following a series of near-misses involving passenger aircraft. The FAA has also tested the Anti-UAV Defense System (AUDS) in hopes of cracking down on drones in restricted airspace.

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