Government Issues Statement on Drones: Public Safety and Security in Focus

U.S Government Responds to Increased Drone Sightings

In this new era of technology, monitoring the daily drone activities in the United States is inevitable. Today, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records over a million legally registered drones that regularly occupy U.S. skies alongside those used for commerce, hobbies, and law enforcement. As we navigate these burgeoning technological frontiers, we anticipate this figure to rise further.

Federal Government Investigating Multiple Drone Reports

Over the recent weeks, an upsurge in reported drone sightings, surpassing 5,000, has found a way to the Federal Bureau of Crime (FBI). Approximately 100 potential leads have been generated from these reports. The federal government, respecting each department's individual mission and authority, is promptly prioritizing and pursuing these leads. In response to this surge, advanced detection technology and trained visual observers have been dispatched across relevant regions.

Through meticulous examination of technical data and citizen tip-offs, the government has deduced that previous sightings encompass a mix of legally operating drones for commercial and hobbyist purposes, law enforcement drones, and conventional aircraft, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. In some cases, stars were wrongly reported as drones. To date, the government has been unable to identify any unusual activities or perceive any national security or public safety threats over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other northeastern states.

U.S Government Addressing Public Concerns and Military Facility Security

However, the government has taken note of concerns raised in several communities and continuous support is being delivered to state and local authorities through advanced detection technology and law enforcement backing. In light of this, they are urging Congress to pass counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) legislation that would broaden existing counter-drone mandates to identify and negate any emerging threat.

Additionally, there have been a few isolated cases of drones sighted over military facilities in New Jersey and other locations, including within restricted air space. Intrusions over Department of Defense (DoD) installations are not rare and are being taken gravely by the DoD. The department is in active collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies as needed. Measures are underway to ensure adequate detection and mitigation procedures are implemented by local commanders.