A Federal Aviation Administration official warned this week about the dangers of even small unmanned aircraft , pointing specifically to a recent close call involving a drone and a commercial airliner that could have had `` catastrophic '' results . Jim Williams , the head of the FAA 's Unmanned Aircraft Systems ( UAS ) office , discussed various potential perils during a presentation Thursday to those attending the Small Unmanned Systems Business Expo . A video of his talk in San Francisco , and those of others , to those who operate , create or otherwise are involved or interested in such unmanned aircraft was posted to YouTube . After saying `` the FAA has got to be responsive to the entire industry , '' Williams referred to a pair of incidents in which drones caused injuries to people on the ground . One came at an event at Virginia Motor Speedway in which an `` unauthorized , unmanned aircraft '' crashed into the stands , and in the other a female triathlete in Australia had to get stitches after being struck by a small drone . Then , Williams segued to a pilot 's recent report of `` a near midair collision '' with a drone near the airport in Tallahassee , Florida . The pilot said that it appeared to be small , camouflaged , `` remotely piloted '' and about 2,300 feet up in the air at the time of the incident . `` The pilot said that the UAS was so close to his jet that he was sure he had collided with it , '' Williams said . `` Thankfully , inspection to the airliner after landing found no damage . But this may not always be the case . '' According to the FAA , the incident took place on March 22 and involved as U.S. Airways Flight 4650 going from Charlotte , North Carolina , to Tallahassee . Flightaware.com lists that flight as a CRJ-200 , with a capacity for 50 passengers . The pilot claimed to pass `` an unreported and apparently remotely controlled aircraft ... five miles northeast of the Tallahassee airport , according to the federal agency . Such close calls are rare , the FAA notes . The pilot reported that the small unmanned aircraft involved looked similar to an F-4 Phantom jet , and not like a helicopter that might hold a camera that many associate more closely with drones . Such planes have gas turbine engines and can fly higher than an average drone , according to the FAA . Neither the drone in this case , nor its pilot , have been identified . In its own statement , US Airways said that it was aware of this reported `` incident with one of our express flights , and we are investigating . '' Explaining why this event is significant , Williams referenced to the so-called `` Miracle on the Hudson '' from 2009 , when US Airways Flight 1549 safely crash-landed in New York 's Hudson River after striking at least one bird upon takeoff from LaGuardia Airport . Airplane crash-lands into Hudson River . Such bird strikes are dangerous enough ; a drone , even a small one , getting sucked into a jetliner 's engine could be even worse , Williams said . `` Imagine a metal and plastic object -- especially with ( a ) big lithium battery -- going into a high-speed engine , '' he added . `` The results could be catastrophic . '' All these incidents speak to `` why it is incredibly important for detect-and-avoid standards ( for small unmanned aircraft ) to be developed and right-of-way rules to be obeyed , '' Williams said . He added that such standards are in the works . His agency reiterated this sentiment in its statement Friday . `` The FAA has the exclusive authority to regulate the airspace from the ground up , and a mandate to protect the safety of the American people in the air and on the ground , '' the agency said . `` ... Our challenge is to integrate unmanned aircraft into the busiest , most complex airspace in the world . Introduction of unmanned aircraft into America 's airspace must take place incrementally and with the interest of safety first . '' As to current regulations , Williams noted the FAA has appealed a federal judge 's decision in a case involving businessman Raphael Pirker . Pirker used a remotely operated , 56-inch foam glider to take aerial video for an advertisement for the University of Virginia Medical Center . The FAA then fined him $ 10,000 for operating the aircraft in a `` careless and reckless manner . '' A judge on March 6 agreed with Pirker that the FAA overreached by applying regulations for aircraft to model aircraft , and said no FAA rule prohibited Pirker 's radio-controlled flight . Pilot wins case against FAA over commercial drone flight . But on Thursday , Williams said that another judge had stayed this ruling pending the FAA 's appeal . `` Nothing has changed from a legal standpoint , '' he said , `` and the FAA continues to enforce the airspace rules . '' Drones banned from Yosemite , other parks .
Flight 4650 on September 22 was a 50-seat flight , according to pilot . FAA : The unmanned aircraft looked like a miniature F-4 Phantom jet , pilot said . FAA : A 737 's pilot reported a near collision with a jet over Florida . Drones getting sucked into jet ##liner could be ` ` catastrophic , '' he adds .