America’s Drone Danger

Unmanned-aircraft sightings reported by pilots have nearly tripled since last year, according to new Federal Aviation Administration data, raising concerns about possible collisions with planes. It can be hard to confirm that what people say are drones actually are drones, but either way, they’re seeing a lot more of them.

650

Pilot sightings of drones this year as of Aug. 9–up from 238 for all of 2014

12

Reports of drones spotted from airplanes or airports in the U.S. on Aug. 16 alone

10

Distance in feet a drone reportedly passed from an Air Wisconsin flight outside Philadelphia on May 19

0

Confirmed midair collisions between planes and drones.

–Olivia B. Waxman