The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has launched an official investigation following a collision between a police drone operating in York collided with a plane on approach to Buttonville on 10 August 2021, according to a report in Toronto City News.
The drone collided with a Cessna 172 operated by Canadian Flyers International that was attempting to land. There was an instructor and student pilot on board. No injuries were reported and the plane was able to land without any further incidents, says the report.
The report to Transport Canada, submitted eight days after the incident, said the drone had unauthorized entry to a “controlled airspace.” The two people on board thought they had hit a large bird and “had felt a jolt that pushed them back on their seat.” There was damage to the propeller of the aircraft and the left hand side lower nose cowling was “significantly deformed.” The drone was destroyed. The report also said NavCanada, which operates Canada’s civil air navigation system, were not aware of the police operation of the drone at the time of the incident.
A statement from the federal agency said, “Transport Canada is reviewing information regarding this incident and the department will not hesitate to take appropriate action should we identify any safety or regulatory deficiencies.”
York police say they are currently waiting on the TSB’s investigation for more details.
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