FAA Suspends Drones Amid Rising Laser Incidents

United States: On Thursday, the Federal Aviation Administration announced that it had suspended drone operations over 22 vital areas in New Jersey on grounds for security considerations.

Security Measures Driven by Federal Agencies

The FAA noted that the decision to suspend drones at those places for thirty days was based on security measures requested by federal security agencies following its decision to prohibit the use of drones in two places in New Jersey in November. Some of the new locations are Jersey City, Elizabeth, Edison, South Brunswick, Camden, Metuchen, and Bridgewater, as reported by Reuters.

FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of New York https://t.co/81Vu0cSaZW

— Jen Contreras (@JSeibContreras) December 20, 2024

The FAA reported on Wednesday that a significant increase in the number of people in New Jersey and surrounding states pointing lasers at airplanes flying overhead in a frenzy of concern about drones. Federal agencies in the United States have once again noted that increased drone presence is not a threat to national security and that most of the objects recorded seem to be aircraft, stars, or recreational drones.

Laser Incidents Skyrocket in New Jersey

FAA bans drones over parts of New Jersey, violators could face criminal charges https://t.co/AuQaJSG7yh

— South Florida Sun Sentinel (@SunSentinel) December 20, 2024

The FAA stated on Wednesday that reports have increased by 269% to 59 during the first half of December from 8 during the same period of the previous year. According to the FAA, over the past few months, it has received plans for new laser incidents from pilots who fly in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.

FBI Detains Suspects in Drone Laser Incidents

The Federal Bureau of Investigation in New Jersey detained people on Wednesday against shooting at the suspected drones or pointing lasers at them by saying that there could be dangerous and possibly deadly consequences if manned aircraft are targeted mistakenly for drones.

FAA bans drones over several New Jersey towns, New York infrastructure sites – CBS New York https://t.co/45RxYRXmkH

— Jerry Hankins (@JerryHankins15) December 20, 2024

Law enforcement officers have time and again insisted that many of the large objects, particularly fixed-wing ones, are manned and were reported after U.S President-elect Donald Trump on Monday urged for more federal input about the reported sightings, as reported by Reuters.

Growing Drone Activity and Safety Concerns

New Jersey mayor is 'skeptical' about FAA drone ban #drone #drones #ban #banned https://t.co/5Xijywhg8C

— Neon (@make_okane) December 20, 2024

There are around 1 million registered drones that perform around 42 million flights per year.