May Have Hit Small, Shiny Red Drone At 3,000 Feet On Approach To Landing A United Airlines pilot arriving in San Diego Wednesday morning reported encountering a drone in the air as the plane approached the airport, according to airport tower audio. United Flight 1980 departed from San Francisco International Airport at 6:53 a.m. and flew roughly 90 minutes before landing at San Diego International at 8:28 a.m. But as the Boeing 737 approached the airport in San Diego, the pilot reported to the tower that the plane had possibly hit a drone while flying at about 3,000 feet.
