Surge in Drone Near-Misses Raises Concerns at Major U.S. Airports

Recent data indicate that U.S. pilots are confronting an alarming new threat as unauthorized drone flights escalate near the nation’s busiest airports. The growing prevalence of drone incidents has raised serious questions regarding aviation safety amid increasing recreational and commercial drone use.

The Alarming Statistics

In the previous year, approximately two-thirds of reported near-midair collisions involved drones and commercial aircraft at the 30 busiest airports in the United States. This troubling statistic comes from an analysis by the Associated Press, which highlights that the frequency of such near-misses has surged since 2020. This increase is particularly concerning given the steady rise of drone usage and accidents, with the first reports of near-misses dating back to 2014.