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FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of NY and NJ following weeks of panic
By
Giulia Heyward
Published Dec 19, 2024
Modified Dec 19, 2024
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By
Giulia Heyward
Published Dec 19, 2024
Modified Dec 19, 2024
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The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily banned drones from flying over parts of New York and New Jersey, officials announced Thursday.
The flight restrictions coincide with an ongoing FBI investigation into mysterious drone sightings reported throughout the Northeast. Since mid-November, sightings have been reported in several states, including New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Maryland. The unusual activity gained significant attention online and prompted a congressional hearing this month, where FBI officials admitted they remain unsure of the cause.
On Thursday night, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said she was coordinating with the federal government to enact flight restrictions over specific sites.
"I've spoken with Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas multiple times and was just informed that he has coordinated with federal partners and the FAA plans to grant temporary flight restrictions over some of New York's critical infrastructure sites — this action is purely precautionary; there are no threat to these sites," she said in a statement. "This is in addition to the state-of-the-art drone detection system delivered to us by the Biden-Harris Administration earlier this week."
City and state officials are divided on the significance of the sightings. Some downplayed potential public safety concerns, while others expressed frustration over the limited information federal agencies have shared with the public.
The FBI said it has received more than 5,000 tips related to drone sightings in recent weeks.
“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” the FAA said in a joint statement with other federal agencies on Tuesday.
Hochul announced that a drone detection system would soon be deployed in New York to help local authorities monitor drone activity. She also urged Congress to pass legislation granting states more authority to address drone-related issues.
Dana Gallagher, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, reiterated that the reported drone sightings posed no public safety threat.
“In coordination with the FAA and our critical infrastructure partners who requested temporary flight restrictions over their facilities, out of an abundance of caution, the FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions over some critical infrastructure facilities in New Jersey,” she said.
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new york city
new jersey
new york state
public safety
Giulia Heyward
Giulia Heyward is a breaking news reporter on the Day-Of desk. She previously worked at NPR, as a breaking news reporter, and the New York Times, as a reporting fellow on the national desk. Her work has also appeared in CNN, The Atlantic and Politico. Got a tip? Email [email protected] or more securely on signal at 917-715-1458.
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