Pilots report four drone near misses in a month in UK

Airports and pilots want tighter regulations after incidents involving jets near Shard in London and at Liverpool airport

Pilots have reported four near misses in a month between drones and passenger aircraft, including one flying near the Shard in London and another at Liverpool airport, prompting aviation experts to warn that increasingly popular and sophisticated models available to hobbyists are posing a serious risk.

The near misses were recorded by the UK Airprox Board, which said aircraft coming in to land at Heathrow had reported three drone near misses in three days, including one where the pilot could identify the brand of drone that came within 100 metres (328ft) of his aircraft "because his son had the very same model".