Apologies if this has been asked earlier but what damage can a drone do to a commercial airliner that a remote controlled aircraft/helicopter (which have been available for decades) can't?
There isn't any difference.
What IS different is the kind of operator.
The traditional R/C aircraft or helicopter needs skill to build and learn to fly, often in a club environment.
The new generation of 'drones' come out a box ready to go, and can be flown with GPS assistance with zero skill...