In a recent development, the FBI's Newark field office has issued a stern warning to the residents of New Jersey, cautioning them against shooting down drones or directing lasers at manned aircraft.
This warning comes in response to a surge in drone sightings along the U.S. East Coast, which has sparked a wave of panic among the populace.
According to Fox News, the increased drone sightings have led to a shared sense of fear among residents, who have been actively sharing images and videos of suspected drones on social media platforms. This fear has also triggered a vigilante-like response, with some individuals attempting to take matters into their own hands, including the use of laser beams.
The FBI, in conjunction with the New Jersey State Police, released a statement explicitly warning against such actions. The statement highlighted an increase in incidents where pilots of manned aircraft have been hit in the eyes with lasers after being mistaken for a drone by individuals on the ground. The authorities also expressed concern about the potential for individuals on the ground to mistakenly fire weapons at what they believe to be Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), but which may, in fact, be manned aircraft.
"FBI Newark, NJSP, and dozens of other agencies and law enforcement partners have been out every night for several weeks to legally track down operators acting illegally or with nefarious intent and using every available tool and piece of equipment to find the answers the public is seeking," the authorities stated. "However, there could be dangerous and possibly deadly consequences if manned aircraft are targeted mistakenly as UAS."
The authorities also pointed out the ease with which an individual on the ground can mistake a manned aircraft for a UAS. They emphasized the importance of accurate identification for maintaining safety and ensuring appropriate responses to UAS activity.
This statement from the FBI and state police comes amidst growing frustrations among New Jersey residents and lawmakers about the increase in drone sightings and the perceived lack of answers from the federal government. Despite these concerns, U.S. officials have sought to reassure the public that the aircraft in question do not pose a national security threat.
Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, clarified during a briefing that the drones are not government assets and dismissed the idea that they were part of any "experimental program" being tested by the U.S. A joint statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Defense also stated that there is no evidence that the drones are "anomalous" or a threat to public safety or to U.S. national security.
In a related development, senior officials from the CIA, FBI, and DOD briefed lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee about the increase in drone sightings. However, it remains unclear how effective these efforts have been in alleviating public concerns.
The FBI reported that it has received over 5,000 reports of alleged drone sightings in the past few weeks, reflecting the rising panic among residents. Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes called for more federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration, to share more information about the drone sightings with the public.
"The FAA in particular, which is the agency of jurisdiction through the domestic skies, ought to be out Saturday morning saying, Lets show you a picture at the number of aircraft, commercial and private and military, that go over New Jersey in any 24-hour period," Himes said. "Just putting information out there to fill that vacuum would be helpful," he added.
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