Drone spotted near Newark Liberty International Airport

The crews of four airliners each reported seeing a drone Sunday while approaching Newark Liberty worldwide Airport in New Jersey, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The planes were about 13 miles from the airport and more than 2,000 feet in the air when they encountered the drone, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The FAA said it has received a significant increase in reports of drones flying nearby planes as they have become a more popular item.

Sunday’s incidents follow similar ones less than two weeks ago at John F Kennedy Airport, when three drones were spotted by commercial flights and two of the planes came within 100 feet of the flying robots. Drone operators are also prohibited under the FAA proposal from conducting flights that take the devices out of their line of vision – a big blow to companies such as Amazon that have touted the possibility of using the technology to conduct deliveries.

The FAA had placed a ban on flying drones near an aircraft. Violations can result in criminal charges and fines of up to $25,000. FAA rules do not permit people to fly unmanned object above 400 feet because of the possibility of colliding with commercial aircraft.

The agency has faced tremendous pressure to approve such an expansion of nonmilitary drone use from companies such as Amazon, who have said the technology can be used to make speedier online deliveries.