Four planes have been involved in fatal near misses with drones at major British airports including Heathrow in the last month

Press

By Tim Lamden For The Daily Mail and Lucy Crossley for MailOnline

Four planes flying close to major British airports have been involved in potentially fatal near-misses with drones in the the last month.

The incidents recorded in recent weeks took place close to Heathrow, Birmingham and London City airports, and come as the Government plans to impose stricter controls on the unmanned aircraft.

Safety experts fear it is a matter of time before a drone brings down a passenger plane by hitting an engine or damaging the fuselage.

There were previously seven recorded near-misses involving drones in the 12 months to July, according to The Times.

Ministers are now considering taking action against the use of unmanned aircraft after a surge in the number of drones being flown by members of the public.

Under new plans, owners would have to register their devices on a special tracking database

The devices, which can be purchased for as little as £30, have become increasingly popular gifts and toys for amateur photographers seeking to capture aerial footage.

The law already states that drones must not be flown within 150 metres of any congested area, or within 50 metres of buildings not owned by their operator. There are also exclusion areas around airports.