Latest news with #nearMiss
Yahoo
28-06-2025
- Yahoo
Police helicopter in near miss with US fighter jet
A police helicopter reported a near miss with a drone that was in fact a US jet fighter, a report said. The helicopter had been sent to the area around RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, last November following reports of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the area. The UK Airprox Board, which investigates near misses, concluded the pilot had misidentified red flashing lights belonging to an F-15 Eagle. The National Police Air Service (NPAS), which operated the helicopter, said there had been no risk of collision. The helicopter crew spotted the lights as they entered Lakenheath's airspace and then headed towards Bury St Edmunds. "Once they started heading in a westerly direction one of the 'drones' appeared to converge with them and fly above and in front of them," the report said. At one point the object appeared to overtake the helicopter. The pilot assessed the risk of collision as "medium". The two aircraft at one point came within 1,900ft (579m) of each other. Investigators highlighted how the crew on board the helicopter had not been told by RAF Lakenheath of the F-15's presence. The fighter pilot knew where the helicopter was but "it may have been particularly beneficial for the situational awareness of the EC135 pilot if the Lakenheath Approach Controller had passed reciprocal traffic information to them". Mystery drones seen over three US air bases in UK EC135 is a reference to the helicopter flown by NPAS, also known as the Eurocopter, though this model is now called the H135. The USAF said the controller's response was compliant with UK law and the F-15 pilot was in visual contact with the helicopter. At the time of the incident, on the evening of 22 November, the airbase had been at the centre of multiple reports of drone sightings. A police incident log from that day recorded how the helicopter had withdrawn from the area "due to a drone coming close to them". The helicopter's traffic collision avoidance system had also not detected the presence of the F-15s, the report noted. Ian Hudson, a drone commentator and analyst, said "This incident underlines serious concerns about lights in the night sky, planets, Starlink and navigation lights being misidentified as drones. "This incident would have officially remained as a drone were it not for the fact UK Airprox Board have collated the facts." The sightings of alleged drones over three airbases in the area at around the time of the incident are still being investigated by the Ministry of Defence Police. NPAS said its crew had been tasked by Suffolk police "to assist in the search for suspected drone activity in the Newmarket area". Ch Supt Vicki White said: "As noted in the report, and in the absence of any contradictory information, the crew acted on the belief that they were observing drone operations. "The crew demonstrated professionalism and sound judgement in identifying a potential hazard." A US Air Force spokesman said: "The USAF complied with UK air traffic control regulations and remained well clear while maintaining normal vertical separation distances. As noted in the report, the air traffic controllers provided the agreed services to pilots of both aircraft to ensure safety of flight operations." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Police helicopter 'near miss' during drone alert Mystery drones seen over three US air bases in UK
BBC News
28-06-2025
- BBC News
Police helicopter in near miss with US jet over Lakenheath
A police helicopter reported a near miss with a drone that was in fact a US jet fighter, a report said. The helicopter had been sent to the area around RAF Lakenheath, in Suffolk, last November following reports of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the UK Airprox Board, which investigates near misses, concluded the pilot had misidentified red flashing lights belonging to an F-15 National Police Air Service (NPAS), which operated the helicopter, said there had been no risk of collision. The helicopter crew spotted the lights as they entered Lakenheath's airspace and then headed towards Bury St Edmunds. "Once they started heading in a westerly direction one of the 'drones' appeared to converge with them and fly above and in front of them," the report one point the object appeared to overtake the helicopter. The pilot assessed the risk of collision as "medium". The two aircraft at one point came within 1,900ft (579m) of each other. Investigators highlighted how the crew on board the helicopter had not been told by RAF Lakenheath of the F-15's fighter pilot knew where the helicopter was but "it may have been particularly beneficial for the situational awareness of the EC135 pilot if the Lakenheath Approach Controller had passed reciprocal traffic information to them". EC135 is a reference to the helicopter flown by NPAS, also known as the Eurocopter, though this model is now called the H135. The USAF said the controller's response was compliant with UK law and the F-15 pilot was in visual contact with the helicopter. At the time of the incident, on the evening of 22 November, the airbase had been at the centre of multiple reports of drone sightings. A police incident log from that day recorded how the helicopter had withdrawn from the area "due to a drone coming close to them".The helicopter's traffic collision avoidance system had also not detected the presence of the F-15s, the report noted. Ian Hudson, a drone commentator and analyst, said "This incident underlines serious concerns about lights in the night sky, planets, Starlink and navigation lights being misidentified as drones."This incident would have officially remained as a drone were it not for the fact UK Airprox Board have collated the facts." The sightings of alleged drones over three airbases in the area at around the time of the incident are still being investigated by the Ministry of Defence Police. NPAS said its crew had been tasked by Suffolk police "to assist in the search for suspected drone activity in the Newmarket area".Ch Supt Vicki White said: "As noted in the report, and in the absence of any contradictory information, the crew acted on the belief that they were observing drone operations."The crew demonstrated professionalism and sound judgement in identifying a potential hazard."A US Air Force spokesman said: "The USAF complied with UK air traffic control regulations and remained well clear while maintaining normal vertical separation distances. As noted in the report, the air traffic controllers provided the agreed services to pilots of both aircraft to ensure safety of flight operations." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
CTV News
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Study finds ways to improve common Canadian intersections, including major one in west Edmonton
A major Edmonton intersection could use upgrades to improve safety for pedestrians who use it, says a study commissioned by an Alberta organization known for its roadside assistance program. The study done for the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA), of which the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) is a part, examined 20 intersections across the country, including Edmonton's crossroads at 87 Avenue and 149 Street. It found that the intersections, chosen for the study because they represent common busy intersections found across Canada, see more than one potentially fatal near-miss incident between vehicles and pedestrians or cyclists, and suggests ways to reduce the number of them. Included in the study were intersections in Calgary and Lethbridge. 'These representative intersections reveal a snapshot of just how common serious near misses can be – but also where small changes could make a big difference,' Ian Jack, the CAA's national vice president of public affairs, said in a media release. 'These are not isolated incidents — they're regular reminders of why we need to improve intersection safety across the country.' Video technology used through a partnership with Miovision, a software firm specializing in traffic control, found that one in 770 pedestrians and one in 500 cyclists were involved in near-misses that could cause injury or death. Video sensors continuously monitored the intersections over seven months from August 2024 to February this year. They observed more than seven-million pedestrian and cyclist crossings and collected 616,854 near-miss incidents. Six of the intersections were monitored via video over a three-day period, according to an AMA media release. The study suggests design features that can improve the safety of the intersections, including: Dedicated turn lanes; Walk signals that start ahead of a vehicle green light, and; An advance green light for turning vehicles. Dominic Schamuhn, the AMA's manager of advocacy, told CTV News Edmonton on Wednesday while the study focused on just one city intersection, 'there are dozens of intersections just like that one across the city, and dozens more all across the province and across the country.' Schamuhn said the AMA has shared the full report with and given access to data from the study to municipalities. 'What we wanted to do is look at these intersections, take a cross section of them from across the country, but then also look at some of the improvements that can be made, so that municipalities can look at this study, look at their own intersections, and say, 'What is the problem here, and what are some of the options that we can use to improve safety for everyone?'' he said. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Miriam Valdes-Carletti
BBC News
27-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Near miss with train workers at Bookham Tunnel to be investigated
A near miss involving three track workers and a passenger train in Surrey is to be investigated by the around 11:44 BST on 29 April, a train operated by South Western Railway was involved in the incident at Bookham hearing the approaching train, two of the track workers entered refuges built into the tunnel walls, while the third worker leant against the tunnel wall as the train workers, who were not hurt, had been walking back to Bookham station after completing work on the telephones located at either end of the tunnel. A line blockage had been arranged with the signaller to stop trains from running through the tunnel, but it was later discovered that this had been arranged for the nearby Mickleham Tunnel and did not cover Bookham government's investigation, which sits independent from any undertaken by the railway industry, will look to identify the sequence of events which led to the will also investigate the actions of those involved, the way in which the work was planned and any underlying management factors.
Washington Post
23-05-2025
- General
- Washington Post
A Norwegian man awoke to find a grounded cargo ship had narrowly missed his home
OSLO, Norway — A Norwegian man awoke to find that a cargo ship had run aground and narrowly missed crashing into his home along the Trondheim Fjord's coast. Johan Helberg told Norwegian broadcaster NRK that he'd slept through the whole thing and only woke up when a neighbor started ringing his doorbell.
