After incidents, FAA warns against drones at airports
By DRONELIFE Features Editor Jim Magill
The number of reported close encounters between drones and manned aircraft at U.S. airports almost doubled between the first and second quarters of 2026, according to FAA data.
From April through June 2026, the FAA reported 601 drone sightings near airports, compared with only 320 such sightings in the previous three-month period.
The number of reported sightings seems to increase in the warmer weather periods of the year. Last year, in the April-June period, 617 sightings were reported, on a par with the 2026 second quarter, while the July through September 2025 period saw 532 reported sightings. Only 304 sightings were reported in the fourth quarter of 2025.
On average, more than 100 drone-sighting are reported near airports each month, the agency said.
The potentially serious problem of drones flying in the vicinity of other aircraft at airports was brought into sharp focus recently with three drone-related incidents reported at two major airports in the nation’s busy Northeast region.
In the first incident, on Friday, June 26 at Newark Liberty International Airport, the crew of United Airlines Flight 1513 reported a possible drone sighting while on approach around 5:20 p.m. local time.
In a statement, United Airlines said the Boeing 737, carrying 106 passengers and five crew members, landed safely and customers deplaned normally at the gate. Despite the report of the pilot, officials could not confirm the presence of a drone at the scene.
“Following a coordinated review with the FBI, New Jersey State Police, Port Authority Police, and other law enforcement partners, the FAA found no evidence of an unauthorized drone operating near Newark Liberty International Airport,” the FAA said in a statement.
The other two incidents occurred on June 29 at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. According to the FAA, a helicopter pilot flying near the airport reported a remote-control airplane flew close to the copter. The FAA said it had alerted local authorities about the report and is investigating the incident.
In another widely reported incident at JFK Airport, the pilot of JetBlue Airlines Flight 948 reported striking a drone at approximately 3,000 feet altitude while the jet was on final approach around 7:15 a.m. However, no evidence of a drone strike was found. The FAA reported that a post-flight inspection did not reveal any damage to the aircraft.
Officials on heightened alert for drones near airports
With large crowds of people taking to the skies to enjoy FIFA World Cup events and America’s 250th birthday celebrations, federal aviation authorities and airport operators are on a heightened state of alert to protect against unauthorized UAVs entering into the protected airspace around airports that is reserved as the exclusive operating area for manned aircraft.
“Generally speaking, it is legal to fly a drone in most locations if you’re operating under 400 feet, but there are rules — including avoiding restricted airspace including the airspace around airports,” the FAA said in a statement. “When pilots report drone activity around an airport, air traffic controllers contact local law enforcement to try to locate the operator and they may adjust aircraft operations to ensure safety.”
Most airports are surrounded by Class B, C or D controlled airspace, in which drones are not permitted to fly without first getting an approved airspace authorization. Drone pilots with a legitimate purpose for such flights can use the Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) system to get instant, automated flight approvals for certain airport zones.
The FAA said it reviews all reports of unauthorized drone operations in restricted airspace and investigates when appropriate. Operators of unauthorized drone flights are subject to stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time.
In its data release, the FAA reported that drone sightings at airports have been a critical concern over much of the past decade. For example, in the fourth quarter of 2019, the earliest time period for which the FAA released statistics, the agency recorder 382 reports of drone sightings near airports.
The reports, which cite incidents at airports across the country, list the date and location of the alleged drone sightings, the altitude of the manned aircraft and direction of its flight, whether the manned aircraft were required to take evasive action to avoid a collision, whether law enforcement personnel were notified, and the legal disposition of the cases.
For example, one recent incident reportedly took place at Battle Creek Executive Airport at Kellogg Field, in Michigan, when a pilot reported spotting a UAS at 2,000 feet. The pilot took evasive action and the Calhoun County dispatch was notified.
Another incident occurred when the Philadelphia Airport Traffic Control Tower advised a pilot who had reported spotting a black UAS at the 3 o’clock position while the aircraft was traveling southwest at 4,000 feet. No evasive action was taken and no notification was made to law enforcement. Another recent drone sighting was reported at an airport in Mesquite, Texas. A Canadair pilot reported spotting a UAS while flying northwest at 4,300 feet. No evasive action was taken and no local law enforcement personnel were notified.
“Reports of unmanned aircraft (UAS) sightings from pilots, citizens and law enforcement remain high,” the FAA said. “The agency wants to send out a clear message that operating drones around airplanes, helicopters and airports is dangerous and illegal.”
In its statement on the recent rash of reported drone sightings at busy Northeastern airports, the FAA noted that it continues to work closely with its industry partners through the “Know Before You Fly” campaign in order to educate drone operators about where and how to fly safely.
“The agency also is working closely with the law enforcement community to identify and investigate unauthorized unmanned aircraft operations. The FAA has levied civil penalties for a number of unauthorized flights in various parts of the country and has many open enforcement cases,” the statement notes.
The FAA also reached out to the public to encourage people to report drone operations in unauthorized areas to local law enforcement, “To help discourage this dangerous, illegal activity.”
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Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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