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United Airlines Flight 1980 reportedly hit by drone above San Diego; ATC audio surfaces
Reports indicate United Airlines Flight 1980, a Boeing 737 from San Francisco to San Diego, was possibly struck by a drone above San Diego. The FAA, ATC, and United had not confirmed the incident, and an ATC audio clip circulating on social media captures the pilot describing the hit. No injuries or damages were reported.
Why It Matters
The event underscores safety concerns about drone activity near U.S. airspace and the difficulty of verifying drone-related incidents in real time.
Timeline
3 Events
No injuries or damages reported
April 29, 2026
The article states there are no reports of injuries or damages resulting from the incident.
ATC audio surfaces with pilot describing a drone strike
April 29, 2026
An audio clip circulating on social media captures the pilot telling ground control: “Ground 1980, you know off of runway 27 at Broadway Robin?” and “We hit a drone,” followed by: “At around — probably at around 3000 feet, about.” The pilot describes the object as red and small, and notes it was hard to clearly identify, saying: “It was so small … I couldn’t tell. It was red. It was shiny.” The audio is reported to have been captured after landing.
Initial reports of drone-involved incident for United Airlines Flight 1980
April 29, 2026
The Mirror and the Washington Times report that United Airlines Flight 1980—a Boeing 737 operating from San Francisco to San Diego International Airport—may have been struck by a drone near San Diego. The article notes that the incident has not been confirmed by the FAA, ATC, or United Airlines.