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Unmanned Drone Spotted Near Sky Harbor Airport

An unmanned drone was spotted by an airline pilot on approach to Sky Harbor Airport on Thursday morning.

The pilot spotted the unmanned aircraft about 12 miles west-northwest of Sky Harbor and notified air traffic control.

Details about the drone, including its altitude and proximity to the airliner aren’t known. No word if the pilot was forced to take evasive action to avoid the drone.

Phoenix Police said they dispatched officers to the area, though nothing was found. According to the Federal Aviation Administration, drone operators need authorization to operate an unmanned aircraft system, unless it’s for recreational purposes. In that case, it must not interfere with other aircraft or endanger people or property.

KJZZ senior field correspondent Kathy Ritchie has 20 years of experience reporting and writing stories for national and local media outlets — nearly a decade of it has been spent in public media.