Drones latest: New York and New Jersey airspaces restricted as officials demand Congress to pass legislation
The FAA has granted temporary flight restrictions over some of New York’s critical infrastructure sites, in a measure officials call ‘purely precautionary’
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Your support makes all the difference.New York and New Jersey airspace has been temporarily closed to drones, as authorities have worked to slow the number of sightings across the eastern US.
However, the measures were “purely precautionary,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul assured.
“I’ve spoken with Secretary 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 [is] no threat to these sites,” she said.
Dozens of areas were affected by the restrictions imposed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
Drones have also been spotted in Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Massachusetts, California and Florida.
Lawmakers have taken to social media to voice their concerns about what they said was a lack of communication from the federal government.
House Speaker Mike Johnson suggested this week that the Biden administration had brushed off the public’s concerns.
“This is why we need Donald Trump back in the White House, to bring a steady hand to the wheel and a strong commander-in-chief,” he told Fox and Friends.
A bill that would allow law enforcement to track drones was blocked.
Flight restrictions go in place across New Jersey for ‘security’ reasons as drones continue to fill the sky
‘It’s all bullsh**’: Moderator of drone subreddit quits over deluge of conspiracy theories about New Jersey sightings
How to tell the difference between a drone, a plane and a UFO- Mapped: All the locations of mass drone sightings in the last week
Federal authority to track and disable drones set to expire
The government’s ability to track and disable unmanned aircraft deemed threatening is reportedly set to expire after Friday and a temporary spending bill before Congress that would extend that power is up in the air.
In a plan to prevent a government shutdown, there is a provision to extend federal authority through mid-March, according to The Associated Press.
Washington Democrat says drones necessitate policy changes
Washington Democratic Rep. Adam Smith says drones have become a significant concern for both civilians and the miliary.
“We don’t have the answers in terms of being able to figure out where these things are coming from and identifying them,” he told KIRO Newsradio. “We need to make some changes in our policy and in our capabilities to be able to address what is a very real and troubling threat.”
NFL calls on Congress to address ongoing ‘threat’ of drones at games
NFL calls on Congress to address ongoing ‘threat’ of drones at games
‘The time for us to act on this is now,’ the NFL’s cheif security office said. ‘We don’t want to wait until something bad happens’
Massachusetts state senator pitches legislation to regulate drones
A Massachusetts state senator is hoping to propose more legislation to regulate drones in his state.
“If authoritative figures in institutions aren’t coming forward and saying in a timely fashion, ‘this is what this is,’ people are going to use their imagination,” John Velis, an Afghanistan veteran, told CBS Boston.
He also plans to refile a bill clarifying what exactly a “drone” is under Massachusetts law.
‘It’s all bullsh**’: Moderator of drone subreddit quits over deluge of conspiracy theories about New Jersey sightings
‘It’s all bullsh**’: Mod of drone subreddit quits over deluge of New Jersey sightings
In a lengthy resignation message titled ‘Actually, you know what, screw it. I’m out,’ the Reddit moderator of a drones forum lamented the flood of conspiracy theories about the New Jersey sightings
NJ congressman calls on FAA to hold briefing after temporarily restricting airspace
Congressman Josh Gottheimer is calling on the Federal Aviation Administration to host a briefing regarding its decision to ban drones over New Jersey communities.
“I reached out to the FAA first thing this morning and asked for an immediate briefing on their decision to ban drones from flying around twenty-two New Jersey towns,” he said, according to Insider NJ. “They must brief the public on the reasons for their action. Decisions like these made in a vacuum only lead to more confusion and uncertainty. These federal agencies must do better by Jersey families.”
Virginia police receive more than 150 tips about drone activity
Virginia state police said Thursday that they have received more than 150 tips about drone activity in the state this month.
“We encourage anyone that witnesses a drone flying over critical infrastructure, such as energy installations, or military sites, to contact the Virginia Fusion Center,” Virginia State Police Special Agent D. Robinson said, according to WDBJ. “This will enable us to work with our partners to determine exactly what is occurring, and how to move forward.”
Connecticut lawmaker stresses drone sightings are not a ‘federal operation’
Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes said the drones people are seeing in New Jersey and other states are “not a federal operation.”
“What people are seeing or videotaping are either commercial or general aviation aircraft,” he told FOX 61. “In some instances, are law enforcement drones ... other commercial drones, or even hobbyist drones.”
Himes is a member of the House Intelligence Committee which had a classified briefing on the issue on Tuesday.
FAA temporarily bans drones over 22 New Jersey areas due to security reasons
The Federal Aviation Administration has imposed a temporary drone ban over 22 areas in New Jersey.
The agency cited “security reasons,” according to News 12 New Jersey,
Senate blocks bill related to drone sightings
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer from advancing a bill that would allow local law enforcement agencies to track aerial drones on Wednesaday.
It ensures Congress won't act this year on the mysterious drone sightings that have bewildered residents of New Jersey and across the eastern US.
Schumer, a New York Democrat, sought to speed a bipartisan bill through the upper chamber by seeking unanimous consent on the floor, but Senator Rand Paul, a Kentucky Republican, objected to its passage.
“The people in New York and New Jersey have a lot of questions, and they’re not getting good enough answers,” said Schumer. “The utter confusion surrounding these drone sightings shows that the feds can’t respond all on their own.”
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