Drone spotted 6 metres away from PAL plane near Deer Lake

The crew on a Provincial Airlines flight reported seeing a drone about six metres away from the aircraft Monday.

A preliminary report from Transport Canada said the flight had taken off from Deer Lake airport, when crew spotted the drone just off the plane's right wing tip.

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The flight was headed for Gander and was about 1,400 metres in the air, about 18 kilometres southeast of the airport at the time.

The crew said the drone was black and about the size of a large bird.

The report said the unauthorized entry into controlled airspace required further investigation.