Swiss A330 Near-Collision with Drone During Approach to Zurich (HB-JHB)

Incident Overview and Aircraft Details On 6 May 2017 at 04:15 UTC, Swiss International Air Lines flight LX0294, operating an Airbus A330-343 with registration HB-JHB, was on a scheduled IFR passenger flight from Dar es Salaam (HTDA) to Zurich (LSZH). The aircraft was carrying 185 passengers and 12 crew members. The captain was a Swiss national born in 1962, holding an EASA ATPL(A) issued by the BAZL, with 15,542 total flight hours and 2,872 hours on type. The first officer was a German national born in 1986, also holding an EASA ATPL(A) issued by the BAZL, with approximately 5,200 total flight hours and 1,057 hours on type. ## Sequence of Events The aircraft was on a stabilized ILS approach to runway 34 at Zurich Airport. The crew of a traffic aircraft immediately ahead reported to Zurich Final that it had sighted what appeared to be a drone at approximately 5,000 ft AMSL, to the left of the approach axis. Following this warning, the LX0294 crew searched for the object and visually identified a multi-rotor drone with a diameter of approximately one meter, located on the approach axis at the same altitude. The A330 passed an estimated 10 meters below the drone. The crew did not have sufficient time to execute an evasive maneuver. ## Post-Incident Actions and Weather The flight crew immediately informed Zurich Final of the incident in Swiss German and continued the approach. The aircraft landed uneventfully on runway 34 and taxied to its stand. No injuries were reported among the 12 crew members or 185 passengers, and the aircraft sustained no damage. Weather conditions at the time included 3/8 to 4/8 cloud cover at 9,400 ft AMSL and 5/8 to 7/8 cloud cover at 12,400 ft AMSL. Visibility was 40 km. Wind at 5,000 ft AMSL was from 180 degrees at approximately 10 kt. Temperature and dew point at 5,000 ft AMSL were 8 °C and -7 °C, respectively. QNH was 1012 hPa. ## Conclusions The Swiss Transportation Safety Investigation Board (STSB) concluded that despite the timely warning from the preceding aircraft's crew, the LX0294 crew was unable to detect the drone early enough to avoid it, even under good visibility conditions. The drone was located over the MILNI waypoint at the expected ILS approach altitude of approximately 5,000 ft AMSL. The STSB noted that the drone's position and altitude may have been deliberately chosen to capture close-up photographs of approaching traffic. The report highlighted that visual detection of Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS) is often too late for evasive action, emphasizing the necessity of technical detection capabilities and collision warnings for RPAS to prevent future near-collisions or collisions with commercial aircraft.