The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily banned drone use over “critical infrastructure” sites in New York City until mid-January – just hours after the agency placed similar restrictions in New Jersey following weeks of panic over the mysterious flying objects.
The temporary flight restrictions, which will go into effect Friday through Jan. 19, will be implemented near JFK International Airport and LaGuardia Airport in Queens and other sites in Brooklyn and Staten Island, according to the FAA.
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the new measures are purely precautionary and will coincide with the state-of-the-art drone detection system provided to the Big Apple by the Biden-Harris administration this week.
“Since mid-November, New York has been carefully monitoring reports of drone activity and we have been communicating closely with our federal partners,” Hochul said.
“I’ve spoken with Secretary Mayorkas multiple times and was just informed that he has coordinated with federal partners and the FAA plans to grant temporary flight restrictions over some of New York’s critical infrastructure sites – this action is purely precautionary; there are no threats to these sites.”
The FAA also barred drone operations over large and significantly populated areas of New Jersey through Jan. 17 and warned that the government may respond with “deadly force” against drones that pose a threat.
The impacted areas include Jersey City, Bayonne, Elizabeth, Harrison, Kearny, Edison, Bridgewater, Cedar Grove, Hamilton, North and South Brunswick, Branchburg, Woodbridge, Clifton, Westampton, Winslow, Gloucester City and Camden.
Drone pilots who breach the restricted airspace could have their drones intercepted and be “detained and interviewed by law enforcement/security personnel,” officials said.
The FAA warned trespassers they could have their operator’s certificates suspended or revoked and face criminal charges.
Drone sightings in recent months, primarily over New Jersey and portions of New York, have raised the alarm among locals and security concerns for authorities, who fear foreign agents are behind them.
Since drones first appeared in New Jersey skies on Nov. 18, the FBI has received over 5,000 tips about sightings in the tri-state area, according to a statement released on Monday by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the FAA and the Department of Defense.
The Post reported this week that there have been sightings near at least 17 US military installations as far off as Hawaii and Utah that are located near Chinese-owned property.
The White House has largely downplayed the concerns despite repeated calls from local residents and government officials demanding action to at least get answers for the mysterious flying objects.
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI announced Monday they are belatedly deploying drone detection technology and infrared cameras to determine what, if any, threat the unidentified flying objects pose.