In January this year, an American Airlines passenger jet and a Black Hawk military helicopter collided near Ronald Reagan Airport in Washington, DC, killing 67 people. However, the greatest threat to the safety of commercial aircraft in the US is not congested airspace but drones.
According to an analysis of an aviation safety database by the Associated Press, in 2024, drones accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions involving commercial passenger planes taking off or landing at the country’s 30 busiest airports.
The data indicates that drones accounted for the highest number of near-misses since 2020, with the first reports dating back to 2014.
Overall, during the last decade (2014-2024), drones accounted for 51%—122 of 240 reported near misses, according to AP’s analysis.
Commercial aircraft face numerous risks during takeoffs and landings, including bird strikes and congested airspace. However, during the last decade, the risks to commercial planes from drones, both commercial and private, have increased manifold.
The data indicate that more than 50 percent of near-miss incidents over the last decade were caused by drones flying near airports.
The FAA estimates that Americans operate more than a million drones for recreational and commercial purposes. According to the FAA database, there are more than 420,000 commercial drone registrations in the US and over 383,000 recreational drone registrations.
This boom in drone popularity has outpaced education and enforcement. The risks are particularly acute near airports, where the paths of drones and passenger aircraft overlap the most.
Additionally, it is worth noting that these incidents may only be a fraction of all such incidents, as the FAA database is based on voluntary submissions from pilots and other aviation personnel.
A Nationwide Threat
The risks to commercial aircraft from drones are not limited to one or two airports. Instead, this is a country-wide phenomenon, and such incidents are being reported from all over the country.
In November 2024, a commercial airliner was approaching San Francisco’s international airport when the crew spotted a drone outside the cockpit window. The drone passed by their windshield.
Similarly, in August 2024, a drone came within 50 feet of clipping the left wing of a passenger jet as it took off from Newark International Airport.
Two months later, a jetliner flying at an altitude of 4,000 feet near Miami’s international airport reported a “close encounter” with a drone.
Drones Flying Near Airports Despite FAA Regulations
The FAA has updated its rules and regulations for drones to tackle the evolving threat. It has banned almost all drones from flying near airports without prior authorization.
The FAA has also made it mandatory to register all drones weighing more than 250 grams. These drones must also carry a transponder identifying the drone’s owner and broadcasting its position to help avert collisions.
However, the rise in mid-air near-miss incidents at US airports has led experts to call for stricter regulation and harsher penalties from the FAA.
“The FAA receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, and we want to send a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters, and airports is dangerous and illegal,” the agency said in its statement.
“Unauthorized operators are subject to stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time.”
According to the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024, drone operators conducting unsafe operations could face fines of up to US$75,000.
The FAA is also investigating new technologies that could deter drones. Among the technologies the FAA is exploring are using radio signals to jam drones or force them to land, or using high-powered microwaves or laser beams to disable drones.
“The FAA has been testing drone detection and counter-drone technologies at airports over the last few years and is expanding testing to off-airport locations,” the agency said in a statement to Fox News Digital. “These tests determine the effectiveness of the technologies and whether they might interfere with FAA or aircraft navigation systems.”
Some experts are suggesting that the FAA develop a system similar to speed cameras on highways that could record the drone’s transponder code and send its pilot tickets online.
Another option could be to make ‘geofencing’ mandatory for all drones.
Additionally, experts suggest that the FAA should invest in education and awareness campaigns utilizing broadcast, digital, and social media to inform the public about the risks and dangers of flying drones in restricted areas and the penalties associated with such activities.
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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