Plane stupid: Drone near-misses soar to more than one a week

THE number of near-misses between drones and aircraft has more than doubled, with more than one occurring each week.

As ministers came under pressure from the Solicitor General to crack down on drones after a major scare at Gatwick Airport, industry figures reveal the growing threat posed to passengers by these devices.

Pilots warn that a ‘disaster’ is inevitable unless tougher laws are introduced.

Latest statistics from the UK Airprox Board, which monitors the risk of mid-air collisions, show there were 33 near-misses between drones and planes or helicopters in the first five months of the year.

It means 2017 is on course to become the worst year for close calls on record, despite desperate attempts by pilots to persuade the Government to take action. Last year there were 70 near-misses, more than double the 29 recorded in 2015. Pilots and air traffic controllers reported just six cases in 2014, while there were none between 2011 and 2013.

Costing as little as £11.99, retailers have reported soaring sales of drones for recreational use in recent years. They are being targeted at children as young as eight and are widely sold in toy shops.

Investigators have found that reckless drone operators are also flying their devices as close as possible to planes to gain spectacular video footage.

Drones have also been used to smuggle drugs and other contraband into jails.

And security experts are worried terrorists could plant explosives in these devices to mount attacks on passenger planes and other vulnerable targets.

An alarming number of incidents are being reported at major airports, with seven near-misses logged in the first five months of the year at London Heathrow.

The travel chaos at Gatwick on Sunday night following a suspected drone sighting has heaped pressure on the Government to take action. The runway at Gatwick was closed over fears for safety. Several easyJet flights were diverted and one British Airways service was sent to Bournemouth Airport following the closure, while other flights circled the West Sussex airport. Police are investigating the incident. Meanwhile Solicitor General Robert Buckland led calls for an urgent review of the law to protect passengers.

Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s The Westminster Hour, he said: ‘ The legislation relating to aviation is quite old. There’s a lot of legislation about intentional attacks on aircraft. I’d hesitate to say that there’s a loophole, but certainly the development of drones is a relatively recent phenomenon.’ He added: ‘It’s causing problems not only at airports but also in our prisons, and it’s clear to me that we need to look very carefully at whether the law is up to speed...’

The British Airline Pilots’ Association yesterday stressed the need for compulsory registration of drone users to allow police to track them.

Under current laws, drone users who endanger aircraft can be sentenced to up to five years in jail.

They can also be fined up to £2,500 for breaking rules set by the Civil Aviation Authority.

BALPA’s flight safety specialist Steve Landells said: ‘Yet another incident at Gatwick involving drones shows that the threat of drones being flown near manned aircraft must be addressed before we see a disaster.’

Last month, an airline pilot was forced to take evasive action after a drone came within 20 metres of his plane as he prepared to land in Edinburgh. The UK Airprox Board has warned that a minority of drone operators are ‘flagrantly disregarding regulation and common sense’ in pursuit of ‘ever more spectacular video footage’.

MPs on the Commons Transport committee launched an inquiry into drones last year after a surge in the number of close calls with planes. A DfT spokesperson said: ‘ We are working closely with the CAA and industry to adapt and strengthen regulations as drone use and the related technology evolves.’

Holiday jets hit by drone chaos Yesterday’s Daily Mail