SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - San Diego's had more "close calls" with drones than most cities in the United States, according to new aviation statistics shared with 10News.
The statistics show that San Diego ranks second in the California, after Los Angeles. Nationally, San Diego has the 10th highest number of reported incidents, with a total of 35. New York City leads the list, with 169 reported incidents.
There were more than 2,122 cases in the U.S. in 2017, but only 19 cases where the pilot was reportedly tracked down and fined.
On Thursday, the FAA emailed 10News stating, "We can fine people who fly unsafely but we don't have criminal prosecution authority."
Just last month, the Government Accountability Office determined that more needs to be done with drone regulation. The report is titled "FAA Should Improve its Management of Safety Risks".
Some of the “close calls” in San Diego have made headlines. Last summer, someone was flying a drone over a crowd at Petco Park, when it crashed at full speed into the stands.
At a brush fire this week in Santee, water drops were called off after a drone was spotted nearby.
Cal Fire says last year, aircraft fighting the Lilac Fire were grounded because of a drone.
