Video: Near Collision Between Drone and Airbus A300

Bethany Whitfield

Thursday, June 06, 2013 at 08:51 PM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

A nine-year-old near-collision between an EMT Luna X-2000 drone and an Ariana Afghan Airlines Airbus A300 has gained renewed attention due to a recently rediscovered online video.
The 88-pound reconnaissance drone passed just meters beneath the airliner, carrying approximately 100 people, before crashing due to the aircraft's wake turbulence.
The video's rediscovery by German media outlet Der Spiegel has reignited debate in Germany about drone safety, particularly after the defense minister's decision not to equip the Luna's successor with anti-collision technology.

See a mistake? Contact us.

A close call between a drone and an airliner nine years ago is getting renewed attention thanks to an online video showing the near collision.

The footage, taken by the EMT Luna X-2000 drone, shows the unmanned aerial vehicle passing just meters beneath the wing of an Ariana Afghan Airlines Airbus A300 in Afghanistan. The aircraft was carrying approximately 100 people during the close encounter with the 88-pound reconnaissance drone. The UAV crashed after becoming destabilized in the wake turbulence of the A300.