Pilots Encounter Drones 3 Times This Month in North Texas

Issue is growing safety concern for FAA

Pilots have reported three close calls with drones in the skies over North Texas this month as the number of incidents is skyrocketing across the country.

On August 1, the pilot of a Cessna spotted a drone about two miles southwest of Arlington Municipal Airport, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

Then, on Monday, two separate incidents were reported near D/FW International Airport, the FAA said.

An American Airlines flight preparing to land at D/FW came close to an orange drone at about 500 feet in the air.

The same day an Express Jet pilot reported an unmanned plane over Lewisville Dam about 10 miles north of the airport.

It’s unclear whether both planes encountered the same drone or different ones.

The issue of drones coming close to planes appears to be getting worse.

So far this year, the FAA has recorded around 700 incidents – triple the number for all of last year.

The FAA said it is working closely with police to identify operators of remote-controlled aircraft who don’t follow strict rules. Violators can face civil fines.
 

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