A helicopter flying near Bridge of Don in Aberdeen had to turn and avoid a drone that was flying “well above” height restrictions.
The EC175 helicopter pilot initially thought they had seen a large bird, and turned to avoid it.
However, as the object drew closer it looked like a drone as it was bright blue in colour and was on a steady trajectory.
It also appeared to have a “line suspended from it”.
The incident occurred two miles east of Bridge of Don while the helicopter was flying at 1,000ft.
An official report into the incident on October 5 described how the sighting was reported to the Aberdeen control tower straight away.
Drone the ‘size of a dinner plate’
At 10.40am, the Aberdeen air controller manager said the chopper had reported a drone flying underneath them.
After the aircraft had landed, they reported that they estimated the drone to be 150ft below them and the “size of a dinner plate”.
They reiterated that it was “well above” the 400ft UK-wide drone height restriction.
Air investigators have ruled the reported altitude and description of the object were “sufficient to indicate” it could have been a drone.
However, the risk of collision was rated low due to the actions taken by the pilot to avoid the situation.
It is not the first time a drone has flown too close to a helicopter near Aberdeen.
The north-east is particularly prone to interactions involving helicopters and drones. Aberdeen Airport is a busy hub of helicopter activity serving the north sea oil industry.
In November, a drone was spotted flying 40ft near a helicopter near Stonehaven.
