A DRONE flying at a height nearly 14 times the legal limit came within just 16ft of crashing into a passenger plane.
Virgin Atlantic pilots saw the device at 5,500ft near Woking, Surrey, after leaving Heathrow for Johannesburg on June 8.
A Virgin Atlantic plane to Johannesburg was almost struck by a high-flying drone Credit: Getty
The operator of the drone could face five years in jail if caught (stock image)
The B787 Dreamliner was carrying up to 264 passengers when the horrifying incident happened.
A British Airprox Board report said there was a high risk of collision, and the pilots spotted the drone too late to take avoiding action.
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Air traffic controllers were immediately contacted and they alerted other planes in the area.
Its operator was not found but faces five years in jail if caught.
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Pilots and aviation experts have long warned of the danger of a drone smashing into a cockpit.
Drones are normally permitted to fly at a maximum height of 400ft in the UK, meaning the device in the incident was being flown far above the legal height.
A Virgin Atlantic spokesperson confirmed the incident.
The spokesperson added: “The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our priority, and the pilots immediately reported the incident to Air Traffic Control in line with our procedures.”
