if a tiny, tiny asteroid or meteor missed an plane by a few hundred feet, would it be disastrous to the plane?

Question

does it create a vortex, or wind shear or something...

i vaguely recall an incident that may have happened where a plane was missed by several miles (or a few hundred miles?) but i can't recall the link.. i don't even recall the exact size but it was small and the plane was safely far but it was a near miss...

Answer 1

A meteor that made that made air move that much would be a big and noisy one. It would make a sonic boom that you would hear for sure. Luckily these are very rare.

Most meteors are small and not very fast moving by the time they reach 35000 feet so are not a problem unless you get a direct hit.

--//-- Postscript. Terminal velocity for a human is 130mph near ground level. A rock at 35000ft can be moving much faster.

Answer 2

Actually, there could be effect. Inertia allows it to possibly go faster than terminal velocity depending on the resistance it meets in the atmosphere. Things going fast drag air particles with it. That why you seem to be hit by and hear wind when experiencing quick movement. If the meteor was close, and depending on the speed, it could literally drag the plane toward it. Try this: When your'e waiting for a turn at an intersection and your'e next to the lane that goes straight at an area where the cars goes fast like near a freeway exit or entrance, pay attention to which direction the car moves in relation to a fast car going by. You may not expect it, but the car is pulled slightly toward the moving car. Also, the air being manipulated by the wings could be pulled away, causing it to fall. There is also a certain range of the angle you must be at to obtain lift from a wing slicing through the air. This is definitely possible, but I doubt much would happen if it were a good few hundred feet away.

Answer 3

a meteor may not cause much of trouble but a fire ball or meteorite may cause trouble there is a possiblity of occuring a sonic boom when they get closer to earths surface that may cause windshield of plane to break and cause loss of airbalance or when it passes close enough the air around the path of meteorite get heated up causing airpressure imbalance and trouble in controlling plane.

Answer 4

If it made it that deep into the atmosphere it would be at termnal velocity and doing maybe 150 mph. No effect.

Answer 5

No nothing would happen. There is not enough mass to make sound way. Think about a bullet passing by....some thing.

Answer 6

No, there would be no ill effects.

Answer 7

I THINK THAT THE SUCTION FROM IT COULD CAUSE SOME HAVOC !!!

Answer 8

maybe