The FAA is banning drones in parts of NJ after thousands of mystery sightings

The Federal Aviation Administration banned drones from flying over “critical New Jersey infrastructure” in the wake of thousands of drone sightings for which there seem to be very few satisfying answers. The ban will last until January 17th and will block unauthorized drone activity in 22 areas due to “special security reasons,” according to ABC7NY.

Under the FAA’s temporary flight restriction, drones can’t operate within one nautical mile, from the ground up to an altitude of 400 feet, in the affected airspace. A Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) on the FAA’s website says the government “may use deadly force” against unmanned aircraft in restricted areas if it “poses an imminent security threat,” while the pilot may be “intercepted, detained and interviewed” by law enforcement.

During a background call last week, an FAA official said the agency issued its first temporary flight restrictions over Morris County, New Jersey, and the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster in late November. This latest ban covers a much wider swath of the state, including major hubs like Jersey City, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Harrison, and Camden.

For weeks, millions of people in the New York City metro area have traded concerns and conspiracy theories about the mysterious drones zipping through the skies. Despite sightings popping up even outside of New Jersey, government officials have little information to share on the situation.

A joint statement from the FAA, FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the Department of Defense maintains that the drones don’t appear to “present a national security or public safety risk,” while attributing some sightings to “lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones.”

Still, lawmakers are pushing for answers — and possibly even legislation that will make it easier to track and monitor drone activity.