Drone flying at 5,000ft almost crashes into passenger plane near Heathrow

The drone came close to a passenger plane shortly after it had left Heathrow (Picture: Getty Images)

A Virgin Atlantic flight came only 16ft from a drone being flown far above the legal limit after taking off from Heathrow.

Pilots of the aircraft from the UK’s busiest airport to Johannesburg on June 8 spotted the object from the cockpit, flying at about 5,500 ft above Woking, Surrey.

The white drone was seen flying at almost 14 times above the legal limit, which is usually around 400 ft.

Pilots saw it while climbing as it passed the right side of the aircraft around 16 ft away, according to a safety report.