FBI issues warning amid drone mystery: Don’t point lasers at aircrafts
A nationwide fascination with drones flamed by reports of uncrewed aerial vehicles across several eastern states including New Jersey, New York and Maryland has now prompted federal officials to warn the public against interfering with unrecognized aircrafts.
Since November, the FBI has received tips involving over 5,000 reported drone sightings, resulting in mounting anxiety among residents spotting what they believe to be Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, FBI and the Pentagon issued a joint statement this week, saying they have uncovered nothing nefarious related to the sightings.
The agencies have also clarified many sightings appear to be not drones at all, though there are more than 1 million drones lawfully registered with the FAA, and thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones fly daily.
Officials have previously advised against trying to shoot down unidentified aircraft spotted in the sky. Now, the Newark branch of the FBI is warning residents against another dangerous trend: pointing lasers at them.
Stop pointing lasers at unfamiliar aircrafts, says FBI
In a statement shared to X, formerly Twitter on Monday, the Newark, New Jersey branch of the FBI issued the public a warning against taking any concerns about drones or unmanned aircraft into their own hands.
"FBI Newark and New Jersey State Police want to warn the public about an increase in pilots of manned aircraft being hit in the eyes with lasers because people on the ground think they see an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS)," the statement said. "There is also a concern with people possibly firing weapons at what they believe to be a UAS but could be a manned aircraft."
The statement went on to say that local and federal agencies have been scouring the area at night for several weeks to identify and track down any potentially illegal operations of UAS. Because misidentification is common, with people often mistaking normal aircrafts, low-orbit satellites or even planets or stars for drones, officials said they employ a variety of advanced tools and techniques to accurately identify airborne objects.
"However, there could be dangerous and possibly deadly consequences if manned aircrafts are targeted mistakenly as UAS," FBI Newark said. "Accurate identification is critical for maintaining safety and ensuring appropriate responses to UAS activity."
The agency likewise advised those who are curious about an object moving through the sky to check the multitude of websites and apps available to the public that show flight paths for commercial flights and other manned crafts, satellites in Earth's orbit, and stars and planets visible each night.
Some of these tools can be found on the FAA, NOAA and NASA websites.
Is it legal to shoot down a drone?
Trump and other officials have suggested that the military shoot some of these mystery drones out of the sky to enable authorities to determine what they are. Residents themselves have even indicated their willingness to take aim at the crafts.
But even though no pilots are aboard, the FAA considers drones to be aircrafts, meaning that it is a federal crime for civilians to take a shot at one. An aircraft that is shot down, crashes and causes damage to people or property also puts those who shot it on the hook for civil damages.
Contributing: John Bacon, Eric Lagatta, Anthony Robledo, Paste BN