Airports don't like to shut down. Airlines don't like their pilots to divert. They surely aren't going to do this just to promote some anti drone story. Birds try to avoid airplanes, sometimes successfully, sometimes not. How can ATC, or pilots have confidence that a drone flown by a person in an area he should know to avoid is not trying to hit an airplane? Or, more correctly trying to get hit by an airplane. I once had a near miss with a kite! Not the bird, the little stick and paper kind. It was sitting at approx 900' altitude, right on course and on glide slope to the runway. I doubt that it would have done any damage, but someone was very purposely putting in in position to be hit. So if some idiot is breaking all the rules by flying near the flight path to a major airport, they should just press on??
And for all the comments about what you can and cannot see from the cockpit of an airliner, just cool it unless you actually sit in those seats. I clearly saw the kite, as well children's helium balloons, birds, and other small objects in flight. At the same time, we often have airliner size traffic pass by at altitude, with both crews knowing, and neither actually visually picking up the other.
And why no pics?? Seriously?? Well, believe it or not, we don't fly around with our cameras in our hands!
And someone please explain how this one is "probably fake".
I am a drone pilot now. I was a professional pilot for over 40 years. We need to police our ranks and call out the idiots who jeopardize our hobby, Not defend them.
Finally, could a drone bring down an airplane? Check my avatar. I found that on the internet, but I knew I would, because it is just like the helmet of one of my ex squadron mates who had to eject from a fighter after hitting a 2 to 3lb bird at high speed and low altitude. Too many here think they know things, they have no idea about.