CRUCIAL QUOTE
“Operating drones around airplanes, helicopters and airports is dangerous and illegal,” according to the FAA, noting “unauthorized operators may be subject to stiff fines and criminal charges, including possible jail time.”
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Near Misses Are Common, But Strikes Are Rare
The FAA has never publicly confirmed a collision involving a drone and a U.S. commercial passenger airliner, unlike between drones and helicopters and drones and private jets. However, commercial airline crews have reported suspected drone strikes and numerous near-misses. Nine near misses between commercial jets and drones were reported in the first three months of 2026, Forbes found in reviewing NASA’s Aviation Safety Reporting System (ASRS), a program that lets aviation workers file confidential reports without fear of punishment. In 2025, 55 near misses between a commercial passenger jet and a drone were anonymously reported. An Associated Press analysis of the same database found that in 2024, drones accounted for nearly two-thirds of reported near midair collisions involving commercial passenger planes taking off and landing at the country’s top 30 busiest airports.
Big Number
837,513. That’s how many active drones were registered with the FAA as of early 2026.
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Tangent
In February, the FAA closed the airspace around El Paso International Airport for 10 days due to “special security reasons” and then reversed course hours later. The New York Times reported the shutdown was prompted by the Pentagon’s use of new counter-drone technology and concerns about the risks it could pose to other aircraft in the area.
Further Reading
Drone Delivery Needs Air Traffic Control. So The Industry Built Its Own. (Forbes)