Multiple recent incidents involving drones flying dangerously close to commercial aircraft have renewed concerns about aviation safety near the nation’s busiest airports. Reports from pilots describe encounters where drones came within just hundreds of feet or less of their aircraft during takeoff or landing, raising alarms among aviation experts.
In one November case, a commercial airliner approaching San Francisco’s international airport encountered a drone so close to the cockpit that pilots reported they had no time to react before it passed within 300 feet of the windshield. Similar incidents occurred near airports in Miami and Newark, including one in which a drone nearly struck the wing of a departing passenger jet.
These events were officially categorized as “near midair collisions,” a term used when aircraft manned or unmanned come dangerously close in flight. Experts warn that such encounters pose significant risks and could lead to catastrophic outcomes if a drone were to strike a vital part of a commercial aircraft.
An analysis of data from a national aviation safety database shows that in the past year, drones accounted for nearly two-thirds of all reported near-miss incidents involving commercial airliners at the 30 busiest airports in the country. This marks the highest proportion of such incidents since 2020, when air traffic dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since the first drone-related near-miss was documented in 2014, the number of reported encounters has increased dramatically. Over the past decade, drones were involved in more than half of all recorded near-miss incidents 122 out of 240 at major airports.
Passenger aircraft have always faced hazards near airports, such as bird strikes or heavy traffic in the skies. However, the growing popularity of recreational and commercial drones, many of which can be purchased easily online and are capable of reaching high altitudes, has introduced a new and unpredictable risk to flight safety.
Experts say that the greatest danger exists near airports, where drone activity is most likely to intersect with commercial flight paths. Despite regulations prohibiting unauthorized drone operations near airports, enforcement can be challenging, especially when drone pilots are difficult to identify.
The data used in the analysis comes from a voluntary reporting system used by pilots and aviation personnel, meaning the number of actual drone encounters may be even higher. Another reporting system maintained by the Federal Aviation Administration recorded at least 160 drone sightings near airports last month alone.
Aviation officials acknowledge the need for stronger detection and mitigation systems at airports to prevent unauthorized drone activity. Efforts are ongoing to expand airport capabilities to better identify and respond to potential drone threats.
As drone use continues to rise across the country, the need for tighter regulations, improved enforcement, and better public awareness remains a top priority for aviation safety advocates.
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