In this issue of “Dronegate”…
The FBI is urging the public to report suspicious drone activity instead of resorting to potentially dangerous actions like shooting them down. The concern over the presence of drones in the area has escalated as reports of sightings continue to flood in. The authorities are working to address these concerns and investigate the drone activity in order to ensure public safety.
The bureau warned on social media that such activity could be dangerous or even deadly. Â
In a statement, jointly issued by the FBI and New Jersey State Police, authorities cited an increase in pilots of manned aircraft being been hit in the eyes with lasers after being misidentified as a drone by someone on the ground, while also stressing concern that that people on the ground could mistakenly fire weapons at what they believe to be an Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, which are actually 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. However, there could be dangerous and possibly deadly consequences if manned aircraft are targeted mistakenly as UAS.
Misidentification, along with panic, anger, and conspiracies — including super whacked-out ones — also occurs when people don’t get answers, particularly from a government they no longer trust.
The statement includes recommendations about alternatives other than taking the matter into one’s own hands.
To improve accuracy and prevent false sightings, a variety of tools and techniques can be used to assist with the visual identification of suspected UAS. Accurate identification is critical for maintaining safety and ensuring appropriate responses to UAS activity.
There are many different websites and mobile apps the public can access through various government agencies and private companies that show flight paths of manned aircraft, satellites in Earth’s orbit, and stars and planets visible on a given evening that can help determine if people are seeing a UAS or something else.
Again, here’s the thing. People who shoot or point lasers at “lights in the” sky do so because of one or more reasons I included in the first paragraph. Toss in a healthy amount of distrust in the federal government, whether warranted or not, and this is what you get.Â
— FBI Newark (@FBINewark) December 16, 2024
Republican Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes said in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that concerned people should call one or more federal agencies, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), to share information about drone sightings.
“Just putting information out there to fill that vacuum would be helpful,” Himes added.
The Bottom Line
While I’m neither a conspiracy theorist nor do I get irrationally worked up, it’s been obvious for a month that something is happening in the skies over New Jersey and elsewhere.
