The Federal Aviation Administration issued more restrictions on drone flights across the Northeast on Friday in response to increased sightings in recent weeks.
One day after announcing temporary restrictions on most drone flights in New Jersey, the FAA issued 27 No-Fly Zone notices for “special security reasons” in New York on Friday.
FAA ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY RESTRICTIONS ON DRONE FLIGHTS IN NEW JERSEY FOLLOWING INFLUX OF SIGHTINGS There are a few exceptions to the restrictions, including those using drones in support of national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting and rescue services, or disaster response.
The notices come after more than a month of alleged drone sightings – many in New Jersey on a nightly basis – across the mid-Atlantic region, prompting bipartisan concerns from citizens and lawmakers.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP As of early Friday morning, no other states have issued such notices amid the influx of reported sightings across the Northeast, according to the FAA website.
Drone sightings have increased in recent weeks, prompting the Federal Aviation Administration to impose additional restrictions on drone flights throughout the Northeast on Friday.
For “special security reasons,” the FAA issued 27 No-Fly Zone notices in New York on Friday, one day after announcing temporary restrictions on the majority of drone flights in New Jersey.
The limitations are in effect until January. 18, 2025, and cover almost every borough of New York City as well as some of the most populous regions in the Empire State.
After a surge in sightings, the FAA announces temporary restrictions on drone flights in New Jersey.
Some industries are exempt from the regulations, such as those that use drones for disaster relief, law enforcement, homeland security, firefighting, and rescue operations.
With a legitimate statement of work, commercial drones are also permitted to operate in restricted airspace.
The FAA states that those who fit into the previously listed categories also need to have a Special Government Interest waiver, which is an emergency authorization that permits operations in restricted airspace for a particular purpose.
It is also necessary to adhere to all other federal aviation regulations.
After over a month of reported drone sightings throughout the mid-Atlantic region, many of which occurred nightly in New Jersey, the notices were issued, raising concerns among lawmakers and citizens of both parties.
“WE RECOGNIZE THE CONCERN,” stated government agencies after a joint investigation into drone sightings revealed no threat.
Although there have been almost 5,000 reports of alleged drone sightings in “the last few weeks,” only 100 of them have resulted in leads, according to an ongoing joint investigation by the FBI, FAA, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense.
The agencies urged Congress to pass legislation that would “extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge,” even though they said on Monday that they have not yet discovered any risk during their investigation. “.
Despite the surge of sightings reported throughout the Northeast, the FAA website states that as of early Friday morning, no other states had issued such notices.
