Medium Transport; Low Wing; 2 Turbojet Eng
Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Distraction; Situational Awareness
Conflict Airborne Conflict; Ground Event / Encounter Object; Inflight Event / Encounter Object
General None Reported / Taken
Environment - Non Weather Related; Human Factors
While on a visual approach to RWY 27L; we encountered an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle. The event occurred on approximately a three mile final. Our altitude was approximately 2200 feet MSL; and the UAV was 500 feet below us and slightly off to the Captain's side of the aircraft. The closure rate was far too fast for us to take any evasive action. We continued the approach and landed without incident. We reported the event to the tower controller. During the taxi-in; ATC requested information about the incident. The vehicle appeared to have some sort of disk in the center; with rotors/propellers on the corners.Upon landing and deplaning; a [company employee] met me at the aircraft and requested that I call a phone number. I called the number from the telephone in the jetbridge.
An air carrier Captain on a visual approach to ATL at 2;200 feet encountered an UAS about 500 feet below his aircraft on a three mile final. The encounter was so brief no evasive action was taken.