From January 2024 through June 2026, the Federal Aviation Administration recorded 458 drone sightings near airports across New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut, according to data tracked by 7 On Your Side Investigates. The total includes 123 sightings at LaGuardia Airport, 79 at John F. Kennedy International Airport, and 49 at Newark Liberty International Airport, raising significant safety concerns as unauthorized operators continue to fly high above the permitted 400-foot limit in restricted airspace.
Drone Sightings and Near Misses at Tri-State Airports
The rising number of drone encounters has directly impacted commercial aviation traffic in the region. Last month, a commercial pilot reported hitting a drone while descending at JFK airport. A few weeks prior to that incident, a near miss was reported between a plane and a drone at Newark, according to FAA records. Unauthorized drones are barred from flying above 400 feet and are strictly prohibited near airports, yet operators frequently exceed these limits. An FAA report documented a drone spotted near Newark at 16,000 feet that “almost hit” the left wing of an aircraft. Another report at LaGuardia showed a drone at 2,400 feet, forcing the plane to descend to avoid the object.
FAA Safety Warnings and Enforcement Measures
Federal aviation officials warn that these unauthorized operations create severe hazards for commercial aircraft and helicopters. “You can take down an aircraft, you could cause serious harm to people, you could cause serious accidents in general,” said Adam Kyle, a certified drone teacher with Precision Agriculture, noting that drones can spot planes while planes cannot see drones. Michael McCormick, from VP of the FAA, stated that the activity is “completely unsafe, a complete violation of the rules.” McCormick added that strikes against the nose, engine, or helicopters pose extreme risks, and that the volume of drones operating close to LaGuardia is “really pushing that airport past the limit of safety and efficiency.” In an official statement, the FAA emphasized that it receives more than 100 drone-sighting reports near airports each month, warning that operators face stiff fines, criminal charges, and possible jail time. Kyle noted that authorities are taking enforcement much more seriously, which could lead to steep civil penalties and potential legal recourse.
National Statistics and Future Aviation Outlook
The local trend mirrors a broader national increase in unauthorized drone activity. The FAA recorded 919 reported sightings nationally in the first half of 2026, following 1,859 reported sightings in 2025 and 1,674 in 2024. Furthermore, across the country from 2017 through April of this year, “there have been at least 17 confirmed or probable drone collisions with airplanes, helicopters, and hot air balloons, causing significant damage,” according to the FAA. When air traffic controllers spot or receive reports of a drone near an airport, they contact local law enforcement to locate the operator and may adjust aircraft operations to ensure safety. As unmanned aircraft technology evolves, Kyle noted that “as we move forward, we will start to see drones play a much larger role in all spaces of society.”
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