RICHMOND, Va. – At least three drones or unmanned aerial vehicles came dangerously close to commercial airplanes over the weekend near New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.
The latest plane originated from Richmond International Airport Sunday night.
Delta Flight 5911 operated by Shuttle America spotted the drone on the left side of the Embraer 145 which holds 50 passengers as it was landing at JFK around 6 p.m. Sunday.
"The pilot was going into New York he spotted one was below and I believe another was above the plane of course he declared it immediately," said aviation expert, Johnny Mazza.
On Friday, the FAA reported that pilots from Delta and JetBlue each reported similar sightings.
"It could take out a small plane very easily if it just hits the right place at the right time," Mazza said. "The smaller the plane gets the bigger the issue it is.”
Mazza said regulations are needed before a close call becomes a disaster and passengers flying out of RIC Monday agreed.
"I think if you are going to get near an airport there need to be regulations you couldn't just fly a Cessna around JFK airport without clearance," said New York bound Richmond passenger Collin Witty.
"I am kind of concerned because everything could happen," said Boston bound passenger Oscar Delgado.
Mazza said the majority of drone owners aren't experienced flyers.
"You're getting a group of people in here flying these that have no understanding of aviation rules, regulations, federal aviation regulations and so forth and they think they can just go and fly them anywhere and it is endangering the public," said Mazza. "We are going to need stringent rules and regulations on these," added Mazza.
The FAA is investigating all three incidents.
