Drone Near-Misses with Airliners Surge at Major US Airports

An Associated Press analysis of aviation safety data reveals a concerning increase in near midair collisions between drones and commercial airliners at the nation’s busiest airports. These incidents, classified as potential catastrophes by aviation safety experts, are becoming increasingly frequent.

In one instance last November, a commercial airliner on final approach to San Francisco International Airport had a drone pass a mere 300 feet from the cockpit windshield, leaving the crew with no time to react. Similar incidents were reported near Miami and Newark, where drones came dangerously close to passenger jets.

The AP analysis found that drones accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions involving commercial passenger planes during take-off and landing at the country’s top 30 busiest airports last year. This represents the highest percentage since the pandemic-related drop in air traffic in 2020.

Since the first reports of near misses involving drones in 2014, the number of such incidents spiked dramatically the following year. Over the past decade, drones have been implicated in 51% (122 of 240) of reported near misses, according to the AP’s investigation.

While passenger jets have always faced risks near airports, the growing popularity of drones has introduced a new dimension of danger. The FAA estimates that over a million drones are currently being operated by Americans for recreational and commercial purposes, increasing the likelihood of encounters with commercial aircraft.