By BIANCA V. ZQUEZ TONESS and Dave Collins, Associated Press
Boston (AP) As elected officials stepped up their efforts to identify and halt the enigmatic unmanned aircraft, several alleged drone sightings in the eastern United States resulted in arrests close to Boston’s Logan International Airport and a brief closure of airspace at an Air Force post in Ohio.
According to Robert Purtiman, a base spokesperson, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base outside Dayton, Ohio, had to limit its airspace for almost four hours late Friday into early Saturday due to drones flying around the base.
According to Purtiman on Monday, drones have never been seen at the facility, which is among the biggest in the world, and no sightings have been confirmed since early Saturday. He stated that the drones varied in size and had no effect on any base facilities, but he would not specify the number of drones operating in the region.
Two males were detained by Boston city police on suspicion of flying a drone dangerously near Logan Airport on Saturday night. According to authorities, the aircraft and the operators’ location were discovered by an officer utilizing drone surveillance technology. A third individual is still at large after eluding authorities. According to authorities, the two males are accused of trespassing and may be subject to additional accusations and penalties.
Drone operators were advised by Boston police to follow federal safety regulations.
There are serious concerns associated with even small drones, such as the possibility of catastrophic damage to helicopters and airplanes. According to police posts on social media, pilots may swerve off course due to near-collisions, endangering life and property.
According to national security experts, the drones that were recently detected in the country’s east don’t seem to represent a threat to public safety or an indication of foreign meddling. However, leaders of both political parties are calling for improved technology and authority to deal with the drones because they are unsure of who is to blame for the unexpected drone swarms or how to stop them.
In response to reports of drone sightings in his state, Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, stated on Fox News Sunday that “there are a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now.” We’re not sure if this is a sufficient response.
In order to identify the drones and their operators, Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer on Sunday demanded that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security send improved drone-tracking equipment to New York and New Jersey. According to New York Governor Kathy Hochul, the federal government has consented to provide the state with a drone detection system.
The Senate majority leader, Schumer, told reporters that the drone sightings had raised a lot of questions among New Yorkers. We’re going to find out the answers.
During its own media briefings over the weekend, the federal government did little to address those questions. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday that there is no doubt that people are seeing drones. However, I would like to reassure the American people that we are working on it. We are closely collaborating with local and state authorities.
According to Mayorkas, manned aircraft that are frequently confused for drones have been identified as some of the drones that have been recorded over areas of New York and New Jersey. As far as we are aware, there has been no foreign participation in the Northeast sightings. And we are looking into this situation with vigilance.
Democratic Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey wrote on X on Sunday night that he and state police had been searching West Trenton, New Jersey, for drones. “We will continue to push the federal government for more information and resources because the public deserves clear answers,” he said, adding that he had received a briefing from the FBI regarding the sightings in Colts Neck, New Jersey.
Since last year, federal aviation regulators have mandated that some drones broadcast their remote identification, which includes the operators’ whereabouts. It’s unclear if that information has been used to identify the person responsible for the drones that are causing problems over New Jersey and New York. When asked if they have used this technology to identify drones, Mayorka’s administration did not reply.
Last month, dozens of enigmatic midnight flights began over portions of New Jersey, which alarmed locals and authorities. The initial sighting of the flying objects over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster and close to the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing site, is part of the cause for concern.
According to Trisha Bushey, who lives in Clinton Township, New Jersey, which is roughly 30 miles (50 kilometers) south of the Picatinny Arsenal, “it didn’t worry me at first.” I simply didn’t give it much thought until it began to happen every night at the same time and location.
Bushey claimed that initially she believed it to be military exercises, but officials later clarified that the military was not engaged.
She told The Associated Press that it became concerned when they publicly stated that they are not foreign, they don’t know who they are, but they are not ours, and they don’t represent a threat.
Reports of drones have spread over the northeastern United States.
Trump and other U.S. political figures have demanded more forceful measures against the drones, including as shooting them down.
Mayorkas stated on Sunday that certain Department of Homeland Security departments has the authority to render drones inoperable. However, he stated that we must broaden those authorities.
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From Hartford, Connecticut, Collins reported. This article was written by Associated Press writers Joseph B. Frederick in New York City, Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey, and John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio.
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