With the increasing number of drones in our skies, monitoring their behavior and recording flight violations has become crucial for safeguarding public safety. This is especially important as the role of drones in our economy expands and laws regarding their flight are evolving.
For example, the FAA is currently adjusting protocols for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) flights, with a new rule expected to be announced toward the end of this year. This decision could significantly increase the number of drones in operation and accelerate their integration into first responder systems, delivery services, and law enforcement protocols.
Dedrone has announced the Drone Violations Database, now providing the public with a view into its extensive Drone Detection Network. This resource offers up-to-date drone violation insights, allowing the public to track drone activity across the United States and uncover trends about drone usage. By leveraging Dedrone’s nationwide network, important patterns emerge, ensuring law enforcement, security officials, and the general public have better insights into the skies above.
Malicious Drone Incidents Increase Every Year
In 2023, Dedrone detected 1,067,112 drone flight violations. By the end of September 2024, Dedrone had already detected over 900,000 violations, putting the US on pace to see a significant increase in violations this year. Dedrone’s “Monthly Drone Violations” charts demonstrate that incursions are up each month of 2024 when compared to the corresponding month the previous year. In May 2024 alone, there were 23,833 more violations than May 2023. The growing number of flights highlights the expanding role of drones in various industries but is accompanied by a concerning rise in violations.
As the number of drone incidents increases, so should the public safety concern. For example, Dedrone’s network identified 678,095 FAA standard 400-foot violations in 2023, which accounts for 63% of all flight violations last year. The 400-foot flight restriction is an important guideline that aids in preventing collisions with crewed aircraft.
The Facilities at Risk
Nefarious drones are increasingly appearing in restricted airspaces, including correctional facilities, airports, stadiums when Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFR’s) are in place, and critical infrastructure. While not all flights that enter restricted airspace have ill intent, their presence needs to be monitored, and they have the potential to pose a serious security threat.
For example, drones at correctional facilities can be misused for contraband delivery. A particularly concerning trend highlighted by our findings reveals that over 17% of drone activity near correctional facilities in the US involves Autel drones—a notable increase compared to just 3.7% across North America as a whole. This surge in the use of Autel drones around correctional facilities indicates that some pilots may deliberately opt for harder-to-detect options, pointing to malicious intent.
Drones are also an important consideration in a vastly different realm: entertainment. At professional games or concerts, large crowds could be a target for criminal drone operators; for example, a drone dropping harmless baby powder could still cause panic and consequent injuries. Furthermore, our data shows that illegal drone incursions are becoming more frequent each season. Drone violations and delays are not only inconvenient to viewers but also put fans, staff, and players at risk and have been identified as a significant concern by major sports associations and security professionals.
