A Denver pilot had an unexpected encounter with a remotely controlled drone on Monday.

The Cessna pilot was flying 8,000 feet over Denver when he saw an unidentified aircraft fly past nearby. The FAA claimed the object could have been one of three things: a military or police drone, a remote-controlled aircraft, or a really large bird.

The only entity that is allowed to operate drones in the Denver area is University of Colorado’s Center for Unmanned Aircraft Systems, but they are not allowed to operate drones in that area or at such a high altitude. Drones are currently limited to altitudes of 400 feet by the FAA. The university insists it had no drones in the air on Monday and only operates within approved airspace.

Whoever was in control of the object was violating aviation law and acting irresponsibly. Had an airplane accident occurred, it probably would have been fatal. If you have been hurt in an airplane accident, contact the airplane accident lawyers of Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., at (303) 423-1770.