Transportation Minister Reports More Than 50 'Near Misses' Between Drones And Airliners

The U.K. Ministry of Transport is recommending new laws to go into effect next year that would restrict drone flight near airports following reports of more than 50 "near misses" between UAVs and airliners in the past year.

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department of Transport Baroness Elizabeth Sugg said the number of such incidents makes the need to act clear, according to a report from the BBC.

The legislation, which is backed by BALPA, would also give police broader authority to land drones thought to be involved in criminal activity.

The BBC reports that in the House of Lords, Liberal Democrat Lady Jenny Randerson said that the government "needs to develop a much greater sense of urgency in dealing with this serious problem that will lead to an accident if it is not controlled."

Baroness Sugg said that the government faces challenges linking an operator to a drone. "We're trying to help address this by bringing forward a registration system and we're also investigating electronic identification," she said.

"We're looking at powers for the police to require the production of registration ID and documents for drone users. Also, that they will be able to require a drone user to land their drone and also to search for and seize a drone when there's a reasonable belief that a crime has taken place."

Debate on the measure has not been scheduled.

(Image from file)

FMI: Original Report