A British Airways 777 climbing out of London Heathrow (LHR) on 24 June 2026 passed within 50 feet of an unidentified silver object, prompting a formal investigation that returned the most serious possible risk rating.
The UK Airprox Board reviewed the encounter and classified it as ICAO Category A, meaning a definite risk of collision may have existed. The incident joins a short but notable sequence of British Airways 777 events that our Squawk 7700 hub has been tracking.
What Happened Near Guildford
According to Aviation A2Z, the incident occurred at 12:08 UTC, approximately four nautical miles northeast of Guildford, Surrey. The Boeing 777 was climbing through 5,800 feet, on its way to a cleared altitude of 6,000 feet, when the pilot spotted the object.
The pilot reported that the object was travelling rapidly in the opposite direction and passed no more than 50 feet above the aircraft's altitude, very close to its right wing. The crew had little time to assess the object before it was gone.
The aircraft did not need to make an evasive manoeuvre and continued towards its destination as planned.
How the Pilot Described the Object
Aviation A2Z reports that the pilot described the object as metallic, reflective and silver. When asked to estimate its size, the pilot compared it to approximately four toasters.
The crew's initial suspicion was that the object was a drone. However, investigators were unable to confirm that identification, and the official record lists the object simply as unidentified.
What Air Traffic Control Recorded
The pilot reported the sighting to air traffic control immediately after the encounter. A controller at the London Terminal Control Centre recorded the crew's description of a fast-moving object that appeared silver, metallic and reflective.
NATS Safety Investigations reviewed radar data from the time of the sighting as part of the investigation. According to Aviation A2Z, that review found no associated radar contacts that could confirm the presence or movement of the suspected object, leaving investigators without independent evidence of what had crossed the aircraft's flight path.
The Category A Classification
The UK Airprox Board reviewed the case at its meeting on 16 September 2026, under case number 2026127. Despite the uncertainty over the object's identity, the Board assigned an ICAO Category A risk rating.
Its assessment stated that providence had played a major part in the incident and that a definite risk of collision may have existed. The classification reflects the potential danger posed by the object's reported proximity to a passenger aircraft, regardless of whether it was a drone or something else entirely.
What British Airways Said
A British Airways spokesperson said the airline takes such incidents seriously and expects pilots to report them so that the relevant authorities can investigate and take appropriate action, according to Aviation A2Z.
The airline confirmed no flight disruption resulted from the encounter.
A Busy Period for British Airways 777 Operations
This incident adds to a run of notable events involving the British Airways 777 fleet. In the past year alone, we have covered a British Airways 777 that declared an emergency on a London to Washington service and a British Airways 777 that made an emergency U-turn back to London. Readers wanting a broader view of the fleet's activity can explore further using our Aircraft Search.
The Bottom Line
The central question raised by this incident remains unanswered: what crossed the Boeing 777's flight path four nautical miles northeast of Guildford? Investigators could not confirm the object was a drone, and radar data provided no corroborating evidence.
What the UK Airprox Board could confirm was that the encounter met the threshold for its most serious risk category. For an object whose identity remains unknown, that is a significant finding.
You can follow all ongoing British Airways incidents and aviation emergencies on our Squawk 7700 hub, the live emergency board and incident archive. We will update our coverage if British Airways or the UK Airprox Board release further information.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
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