A series of alarming incidents involving drones and commercial airliners has raised serious concerns regarding aviation safety in the United States. In November, a commercial airliner was on its final approach to San Francisco International Airport when the crew spotted a drone just outside their cockpit window. The pilots reported it was too late "to take evasive action," as the quadcopter passed within 300 feet of their windshield. This incident was not isolated; a month prior, a jetliner encountered a drone at an altitude of 4,000 feet near Miami International Airport, and in August, a drone came dangerously close to colliding with a passenger jet leaving Newark International Airport, missing the aircraft’s left wing by a mere 50 feet.
These events were classified as "near midair collisions" and could have resulted in catastrophic consequences, according to aviation safety experts. An analysis conducted by the Associated Press revealed that drones were responsible for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions between commercial passenger planes taking off and landing at the 30 busiest airports in the U.S. in 2022. This marked the highest percentage of such near misses since 2020 when air traffic declined significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The trend of near misses began to be reported in 2014, with a noticeable spike the following year. Over the past decade, drones have accounted for 51% of reported near misses—122 out of a total of 240 incidents—highlighting the growing concern over drone usage in proximity to commercial flight paths.
The threat posed by drones near airports is particularly acute, as their flight paths frequently overlap with those of conventional aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates that there are over one million drones operated by individuals for recreational and commercial purposes in the United States. William Waldock, a professor of safety science at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, noted that sophisticated drones can be purchased online and reach altitudes that pose a risk to manned aircraft.
Despite the alarming frequency of such incidents, there are likely many more that are unreported. The database maintained by NASA's Aviation Safety Reporting System relies on voluntary submissions from pilots and aviation personnel. In addition, a separate FAA program recorded at least 160 drone sightings near airports in one month alone.
In response to these growing concerns, the FAA has implemented measures to improve safety. Regulations currently prohibit most drones from operating near airports without prior authorization, although enforcement of these rules remains challenging. The agency requires that drones over 250 grams (0.55 pounds) be registered and equipped with a radio transponder to identify their owners and provide positional information, which can help prevent collisions.
The FAA is also in the process of testing various systems intended to detect and counter drones in airport vicinity. Proposed methods include using radio signals to jam drones or force them to land, as well as employing high-powered microwaves or laser beams to incapacitate them. However, experts agree that stronger measures are needed, such as a system similar to speed cameras that could issue citations to drone operators violating airspace restrictions.
Recently, leading drone manufacturer DJI phased out its longstanding geofencing feature, which had previously restricted drone operations near airports. The company cited the overwhelming demand for temporary geofencing deactivation requests from authorized users as a reason for the change, leaving the responsibility of safe operation largely in the hands of individual users. Without mandatory government regulations for geofencing, concerns about safety in restricted airspace persist.
Authorities have begun taking action against violators, such as the December arrest of two men flying a drone dangerously close to Logan International Airport in Boston. The police managed to track down the operators using the drone's FAA-mandated transponder signal. In another notable case, a drone operator was found guilty of recklessly flying a drone that collided with a firefighting aircraft in Southern California, resulting in significant damage to the plane.
