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Last Update: 09/22/2026 at 11:34 PM EST
Drones Near Commercial Airports
Coverage from DRONELIFE, ABC7 San Francisco, and others
Drones operating near airport airspace can create hazards for commercial aircraft, particularly during approach and landing.
A reported Newark encounter involved a United Airlines Boeing 737 whose crew saw a roughly three-foot drone about 100 feet below the aircraft, while another United Express crew reported a separate sighting. The broader issue includes FAA reporting and investigations, restrictions on unauthorized operations in controlled airspace, LAANC authorizations, and the development of airport counter-UAS systems. Key questions include how suspected sightings are verified, how often they lead to evasive action or damage, and which agencies have authority to detect or interdict drones safely.
Looking Back
90 Day Timeline
Apr 29
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All Articles26 articles
Important
Danish police reported after a nine-month probe that Copenhagen Airport closure on September 22, 2025 had no evidence linking drones to the runway disruption.
6/25/2026 • Counter-Drone & Airspace Security • General
Interesting
FAA investigated a drone hit report from a United Airlines Flight 1980 pilot at San Diego International Airport on Wednesday morning.
4/30/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines Flight 1980 reported a potential drone encounter Wednesday while approaching San Diego International Airport, according to air traffic audio and FAA statements.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
FAA investigated a possible drone strike reported by United Airlines flight 1980 during landing approach at San Diego International Airport on Wednesday.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines reported possible drone activity near San Diego during Flight 1980 approach on February 2024, and the FAA opened an investigation.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines reported a suspected drone near-collision with a Boeing 737 during San Diego approach on Wednesday, with FAA alerting of other pilots and no reported aircraft damage.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines pilots reported a drone near-collision during Newark Liberty International Airport approach on Friday, with FAA investigation following multiple sightings.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
FAA-reported drone sightings near New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut airports totaled 458 from Jan 2024 to Jun 2026, including high-altitude near misses.
7/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
FAA quarterly data show drone close-encounter reports at U.S. airports rising from 320 to 601 between Q1 and Q2 2026 amid multiple investigated incidents.
7/6/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
FAA is investigating after a United 737 nearly collided with a drone during landing at Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday evening.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines reported a drone near-collision during a Newark Liberty International Airport landing Friday while the FAA investigated drone sightings in controlled airport airspace.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines Flight 1980 reported a possible drone strike during approach to San Diego International Airport Wednesday morning, with FAA describing a sighting below the aircraft.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines Flight 1980 crew reported a drone sighting near San Diego International Airport on Wednesday, leading the FAA to reiterate restricted airspace rules.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
FAA data reports 458 drone sightings near New York-area airports from January 2024 to June 2026, including incidents prompting aircraft avoidance and increased enforcement.
7/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines Flight 1980 reported a possible drone strike during San Diego approach around 3,000 feet, and the FAA opened an investigation.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
The FAA investigated a reported drone strike during United Flight 1980 approach to San Diego International Airport after pilot reports of a contact at about 3,000 feet.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines Flight 1980 reported a possible drone encounter during approach to San Diego International on Wednesday, with no confirmed collision and no aircraft damage.
4/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
Additional
United Airlines crews reported a near-collision with a drone near Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday as the FAA launched an investigation.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
The FAA is investigating a reported near-hit between United Flight 1513 and a drone near Newark International Airport on June 26.
6/29/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines and GoJet pilots reported drone sightings during approach to Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday at about 5:20 p.m. EDT as the FAA opened an investigation.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines pilots reported drone near-miss encounters during Newark Liberty International Airport approaches on Friday, based on ATC audio.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
On Friday evening, a United Airlines Boeing 737 crew reported a drone during descent into Newark Liberty International Airport, and the FAA opened an investigation.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Airlines reported a near collision with a drone near Newark Liberty International Airport on Friday, and the FAA is investigating.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United Flight 1513 and a GoJet Airlines flight reported drone sightings near Newark Liberty International Airport during final approach around 5:30 p.m.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
United and GoJet flight crews reported drone sightings near Newark Liberty International Airport during landing approaches around 5:20 p.m. ET, and the FAA is investigating.
6/27/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General
Jutland police in Denmark rolled back drone sighting reports near airports after clarifying that unverified observations cannot confirm drone presence.
7/2/2026 • Regulation, Safety & Airspace Integration • General