British Airways jet carrying 256 passengers narrowly misses a mystery object 'the size of four toasters' after Heathrow take-off

Air safety investigators have been unable to identify the shiny, metallic object involved in the June 24 encounter, which was rated Category A — the highest collision risk. The UK Airprox Board said 'providence had played a major part' in the incident. The Boeing 777 was climbing through 5,800ft over Guildford, Surrey, heading for New York, when the pilot reported the object passing within 50ft of the aircraft.

The pilot radioed controllers that a drone moving 'very fast' had crossed the right wing.

No known object matched its altitude, so it was logged as an 'unknown object'.

British Airways said it takes such incidents 'extremely seriously'.