FAA temporarily bans drones in parts of New Jersey, New York adds flight restrictions

The Federal Aviation Administration has banned drone operations in dozens of areas in New Jersey and New York until mid-January unless operators obtain special government permission for “special security reasons.” “.

Unmanned aerial drones have been lighting up the skies at night in New Jersey and neighboring states for weeks, since around mid-November, sparking concern among residents and speculation online. Some had demanded answers from local and state officials.

“At the request of federal security partners, the FAA has issued 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical infrastructure in New Jersey,” the FAA said in a statement Thursday.

New Jersey’s temporary flight restrictions, expected to last until January 17, were implemented starting Wednesday in the following locations: Hamilton, Bridgewater, Cedar Grove, North Brunswick, Metuchen, Evesham, Camden, Gloucester City, Westampton, South. Brunswick, Edison, Branchburg, Sewaren, Jersey City, Harrison, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Winslow, Burlington, Clifton, Hancocks Bridge and Kearny.

A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said the flight restrictions were issued “out of an abundance of caution.”

“We continue to assess that there is no threat to public safety related to the reported drone sightings,” the spokesperson said in a statement Thursday. “In coordination with the FAA and our critical infrastructure partners who have requested temporary flight restrictions over their installations, out of an abundance of caution, the FAA has issued temporary flight restrictions over certain critical infrastructure facilities. critical infrastructure in New Jersey.”

Following New Jersey’s lead, on Thursday evening, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that federal partners and the FAA would also grant temporary flight restrictions over some of the country’s infrastructure sites. criticism of the state.

Likewise, Hochul said the action was “purely preventative” and “there is no threat to these sites.”

New York’s temporary flight restrictions, set to last until January 18, have been implemented in dozens of locations, including near LaGuardia Airport, many towns on Long Island and in the boroughs of Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens in New York. and the Bronx.

The restrictions state that no unmanned aircraft system may operate within one nautical mile of the airspace specified in each Notice to Airmen, or NOTAM, including from the ground up to 400 feet. Recreational drones are allowed to operate up to 400 feet, according to FAA rules.

Temporary flight restrictions previously issued for Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, remain in effect.

The government could use “deadly force” against drones if they pose an “imminent threat to security,” the NOTAM says.

Pilots who violate these restrictions could be “intercepted, detained and questioned by law enforcement and security personnel.” The FAA said it could also take administrative action, including imposing civil penalties and suspending or revoking operators’ certificates, as well as filing criminal charges.

The ban follows Sunday’s press conference in which an FAA official said there were “without a doubt” drones flying over New Jersey, highlighting the fact that nearly a million drones are registered in the United States.

The FBI has received more than 5,000 tips in recent weeks regarding drone sightings in New Jersey and other states, said a multi-agency statement released Monday by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the FAA and the Department of Defense.

“After closely reviewing technical data and advice from concerned citizens, we believe the sightings to date include a combination of legal commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as aircraft manned, helicopters and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” the joint statement said.