The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating after a drone was spotted flying near a Southwest Airlines jet Friday afternoon on approach to Dallas Love Field Airport.
Southwest flight 28 from Houston to Dallas was about a mile from Love Field when the quad-copter drone was seen near the left wing of the Boeing 737.
The FAA said air traffic controllers at Love Field could see the drone near the jet from the control tower.
The plane, with 143 passengers and five crew members on board, landed safely just before 2 p.m.
Investigators are searching for the drone and the person controlling the drone. Dallas police dispatched Air 1 to help in the search, but they have been unable to find the drone.
Southwest Airlines released the following statement Friday:
"Our pilots on the flight deck of flight 28 observed a traffic conflict as they approached Dallas Love Field. The flight landed safely and our crew filed a report with appropriate agencies. The safety of our customers and employees is our top priority and our pilots take this responsibility very seriously."
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Further information has not yet been released.
Bryan Archer owns a commercial drone company specializing in aerial video and knows to use unmanned aircraft safely.
"We have told the hobby-recreational operators you should not operate near the airport. Some still may not know," said Archer, who also leads a DFW-area hobbyist group.
Archer received a letter from the FAA Friday, allowing him to use the machines for commercial use.
"There are certain guidelines that they issue. For example, you can't operate drones near airports within a five-mile radius," Archer explained.
The FAA encourages drone operators to visit http://knowbeforeyoufly.org to learn and understand regulations when it comes to flying drones in public.
