Drones Cause Two-Thirds of 2024 Near-Misses at US Airports

Drones accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions involving commercial aircraft taking off and landing at the 30 busiest US airports in 2024, according to an Associated Press (AP) analysis of NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System. This marks the highest percentage since 2020, when air traffic was significantly reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AP analysis revealed that drones were involved in 122 of 240 near-miss incidents over the past decade, representing 51% of such events. Drone-related near collisions were first reported in 2014, with a sharp increase in 2015. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates there are over 1 million drones currently in use across the United States for recreational and commercial purposes.

“If you have the money, you can go on the internet and buy a pretty sophisticated drone that can reach altitudes they really have no business being at,” said William Waldock, professor of safety science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.

The risk is especially acute near airports, where drone and airplane flight paths often intersect. Recent incidents include a commercial airliner approaching San Francisco International Airport in November, encountering a drone just 300 feet from the cockpit. In October, a jetliner near Miami International Airport reported a “close encounter” with a drone at 4,000 feet. In August, a drone came within 50 feet of striking the left wing of a passenger jet departing Newark International Airport.

To mitigate drone risks, the FAA has implemented several measures. Drones weighing more than 250g (0.55 lbs) must be registered and equipped with a radio transponder to broadcast the owner's identity and location. Additionally, the FAA has banned nearly all drone flights near airports without prior authorization. However, enforcement remains a challenge, with many recreational users unaware of the restrictions.

The FAA is also testing technologies to detect and neutralize unauthorized drones. Potential solutions include using radio signals to jam drone operations, high-powered microwaves, and lasers to disable drones in restricted airspace.

“The FAA recognizes that urgency, and we all know additional changes need to be made to allow the airports to go out and detect and mitigate where necessary,” said Hannah Thach, Executive Director, Alliance for System Safety of UAS through Research Excellence.

Experts advocate for stronger accountability measures, such as systems similar to speed cameras that could capture a drone’s transponder code and issue fines automatically. Other recommendations include mandatory geofencing, programming drones via GPS to prevent them from entering restricted airspaces like airports.

Leading drone manufacturer DJI previously implemented geofencing restrictions in its products but discontinued the feature in January. It replaced geofencing with a warning system that alerts pilots nearing restricted zones.

“We had around-the-clock service, but the number of applications coming in was becoming really hard to handle,” said Adam Welsh, head of global policy, DJI, referring to the over one million requests for temporary geofencing deactivations processed last year.

Law enforcement has also taken action against drone violations. In December, Boston police arrested two individuals operating a drone dangerously close to Logan International Airport, using transponder data to locate them. In January, a drone collided with a “Super Scooper” aircraft fighting wildfires in Southern California, causing damage and grounding the plane for repairs. The operator pleaded guilty to a federal charge, admitting he lost sight of the drone during an unauthorized flight.