ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A drone was “deliberately” flown at a plane landing at a west London RAF base in a bid to cause a crash, a pilot has claimed.

The gadget was flown just 20 feet below the PA31 light aircraft as it came in to land at RAF Northolt on June 11.

A report by the UK Airprox Board (UKAB), based on the recollection of the PA31 pilot, said: "He lost sight of it under the nose and looked down at the wing root and identified it as a small white drone of the lightweight hobbyist type, it was about 20 feet below the aircraft as he passed over it.

"He reported that he had no doubt that it was being deliberately flown under the flight path in an attempt to collide with an aircraft."

The document went on: "He reported that the drone had passed close to his right wing and that it was possibly launched from a park."

The UKAB classified the incident as having the most serious degree of risk.

Research part-funded by the Department for Transport (DfT) found that a drone weighing 400 grams could smash a helicopter windscreen, and one weighing 2kg could critically damage an airliner's windscreen.

The number of near-misses between drones and aircraft has risen from six events in 2014 to 93 last year.

The DfT is considering banning children from owning drones weighing at least 250 grams as part of a safety crackdown.

Children would only be able to fly the heavier devices if they were owned and registered by an adult.

Other measures included in a consultation launched last month include giving police the power to issue on-the-spot fines of up to £300 for misuse and the ability to seize drones being used irresponsibly.

The DfT is also considering using new technology to protect public events, critical national infrastructure and prisons from drone disruption.

Drones are banned from flying above 400 feet, and within one kilometre (0.6 miles) of airport boundaries.

Anyone breaching these restrictions faces penalties of up to £2,500 and could also be charged with recklessly or negligently acting in a manner likely to endanger an aircraft or any person in an aircraft. The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

Additional reporting by Press Association.