A police Chief Superintendent has slammed the 'very real dangers' of 'reckless' drones after a plane coming in to land at Heathrow Airport was struck by a suspected drone, with 132 passengers and five crew on board .

Police are now appealing for information after the pilot on an inbound British Airways (BA) flight into Heathrow Airport from Geneva reported that an object, believed to have been a drone, had struck the front of the aircraft on Sunday (April 17).

It was flying at around 1,700 ft at the time of the incident shortly before the aircraft landed at 12.38pm, police say.

The flight landed at Heathrow Terminal 5 safely and was inspected by BA engineers. There was no damage found to the aircraft.

Officers believe that the incident occurred over the Richmond area, near Richmond Park. Local officers searched a wide area for suspects and debris but nothing has so far been found.

A passenger, onboard the flight BA727, who believes plane spotters were watching the plane ‘intently’ from a field around Heathrow at the time of the incident on Sunday (April 17) afternoon, and may have caught the moment on camera .

'Potential for major incident'

Chief Superintendent Martin Hendy, head of Metropolitan Police Service's Aviation Policing Command, said: "Thankfully the aircraft landed safely but the incident highlights the very real dangers of reckless, negligent and some times malicious use of drones.

"We continue to work with the Civil Aviation Authority and other partners to tackle this issue and ensure that enthusiasts who fly drones understand the dangers and the law.

"One of the challenges is to ensure people realise what is legitimate and what is illegal.

"The message is do not fly them anywhere near airports or flight paths, or over crowded places such as football and other stadiums. The potential is there for a major incident."

Police in Hounslow recently warned that drones were posing an increased threat to aircraft around Heathrow Airport, after six incidents were reported over two months.

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Aviation Policing are working with partners from British Airways (BA), Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to investigate this incident, which is being treated as an endangerment of an aircraft under Article 137 Air Navigation Order 2009.

Aviation Policing would ask for anyone who was in the area of Richmond Park or any surrounding open spaces on that day between 12pm and 1pm who may have information to contact police or Crimestoppers.

Police also ask members of the public to contact them if they find identifiable parts of drone in the Richmond area.

Anyone who can assist the investigation is asked to contact Aviation Policing on 020 3276 1460; or alternatively Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

There have been no arrests and enquiries continue.