New York, Dec 18, (V7N) - The rising number of reported drone sightings across several eastern states, including New Jersey, New York, and Maryland, has led federal officials to warn the public against interfering with unrecognized aircraft. Since November, the FBI has received over 5,000 tips regarding Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), sparking concern among residents who believe they are spotting drones.

Despite the large number of legally registered drones in the U.S. and thousands of drones in daily operation by commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement users, federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), FBI, and Pentagon have found no evidence of malicious activity linked to these sightings. Many of the reported drones, they explained, are misidentified aircraft, including low-orbit satellites or even planets and stars.

Officials have consistently warned against trying to shoot down or interfere with unidentified aircraft. The Newark branch of the FBI has now issued an additional warning regarding another dangerous trend: the use of lasers aimed at what people believe to be drones. The FBI stated that some individuals have been pointing lasers at aircraft, endangering pilots by temporarily blinding them. There is also concern that some people may be firing weapons at suspected drones, which could actually be manned aircraft.

Federal and local authorities have been actively monitoring the skies using advanced tools to identify UAS and ensure safety, as misidentifications remain a common issue.

END/SMA/NYC/AJ/