Illegal drone use skyrocketing, becoming major safety issue at airports

NEW YORK (WABC) -- The number of close calls involving drones and other aircrafts is skyrocketing. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has reported more than 700 cases so far this year, with some passenger jets even forced to take evasive maneuvers.

Now, airport officials are meeting to see what they can do to crack down on illegal drone use, as it's becoming an increasingly dangerous problem across the country.

There has been one close call after the next - drones are nearly hitting helicopters and commercial airplanes.

The situation is now so out of control that Denver International Airport officials met with the FAA to discuss risks to passengers, potential drone use by terrorists and outreach efforts.

FAA representative Joe Morra emphasized the importance of stopping drone users from flying near airports. They need "to get rid of the grandparents with their grandkids out there operating just because they don't know where they are in proximity to the airport," he said.

The FAA says drones have nearly hit 10 planes at Denver international this year alone.

"Sooner or later, we're going to lose an airplane due to a collision," ABC News aviation consultant Steve Ganyard said.

Drones are now in a very high demand. Surveillance video shows thieves stealing drones from a store in California this week worth $2,900 each.

And while drone footage can be magnificent, California fire crews say drones are even getting in their way during critical firefights.

"We shut the aircraft down for the rest of the day," U.S. forest aviation officer Mike Eaton said. "If you fly - we can't."

FAA law prohibits any recreational drone use within five miles of an airport you can't fly more than 400 feet in the air, even though many of these machines can fly much higher.