A drone sighting on Monday evening disrupted flights at Pittsburgh International Airport, forcing officials to ground flights for about an hour. According to the Allegheny County Airport Authority, the drone was spotted flying near the airport's main runway around 6:30 p.m. The sighting prompted the FAA to issue a ground stop for all flights into and out of the airport.
The ground stop was lifted about an hour later after air traffic controllers were able to clear the airspace around the airport. However, the disruption caused delays for hundreds of passengers. The FAA is investigating the drone sighting. It is illegal to fly drones near airports, and violators could face fines of up to $25,000.
The drone sighting is the latest in a series of incidents involving drones near airports. In January, a drone forced the closure of New York's LaGuardia Airport for nearly an hour. And in December, a drone forced the cancellation of dozens of flights at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport.
The FAA has warned that drones pose a serious safety hazard to aircraft. Drones can fly at high speeds and can be difficult to see, making them a potential collision risk. The FAA has urged drone operators to fly their drones responsibly and to avoid flying near airports. Drone operators who violate FAA regulations could face civil penalties and criminal charges.