A story about another illegally operated drone that came within metres of colliding with a passenger jet at Heathrow Airport has sparked an outcry online.
The close shave, which happened on September 30 last year, was placed in the most serious risk category by investigators and was the latest in a spate of near misses involving the popular remote-controlled flying devices.
The plane was on its final approach to the airport when the pilot spotted the drone that he believed passed just six metres above the plane.
When the news about the near-miss at Heathrow was published on Friday (February 26), the story became a hot topic with users on the London Reddit page.
With more than 80 comments, Londoners asked how much damage could be caused to a plane if a drone was to collide and many said the illegal activity is tarnishing the hobby.
One user said: "Sooner or later a jet is going to strike a drone, and some heavy handed regulation is going to be pushed through parliament very quickly.
"It will wreck drone flying for everyone else."
Many called for harsher prosecution of those found guilty, with one user saying: "Endangering a flight should have a minimum 10-year tariff and extensive resources should be put towards stamping on this.
"If it isn't actively malicious, then it is stupid in the extreme, and either way requires a swift and severe response."
Finally, another Londoner summed up how many drone pilots feel: "These morons will be the death of my hobby.
"Most people find somewhere to sit and stand and either photograph or write down the serial number, admittedly not something I've ever understood myself, and then you get some berk stupid enough to try this?!"
In recent months, more horror stories involving the use of flying drones near UK airports have surfaced, with the Civil Aviation Authority restricting flight in proximity.
There have also been more cases of lasers shone in pilot's eyes during takeoff and landing at Heathrow Airport.
