Drone collisions with commercial aircraft raise safety concerns

A Boeing 737‑800 operated by TUI suffered a tail‑strike while landing at Palma de Mallorca Airport on 27 June 2026. Parts of the aircraft broke off on the runway, prompting the temporary closure of both runways for debris removal. No passengers were injured and the plane was later inspected by technicians and safety inspectors.

Separately, a JetBlue Airbus A321 en route from Las Vegas to New York reported a near‑miss with a drone that struck just above the cockpit. The pilot informed air‑traffic control, and after landing the aircraft was taken out of service for a safety check. JetBlue and the FAA said no damage was found, but the incident underscores ongoing concerns about unauthorized drone operations near airports, which the FAA restricts to a maximum altitude of 122 m.

Both incidents highlight the growing risk that low‑cost, high‑altitude drones pose to commercial aviation and have prompted renewed calls for stricter enforcement of drone‑flight regulations.