NEWARK, N.J. – The FBI Newark office and New Jersey State Police are warning the public about the dangers of targeting aircraft with lasers or firearms amid rising reports of suspected drone activity.
Officials say pilots of manned aircraft have increasingly been struck by ground lasers, often because individuals mistakenly believe they are seeing unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). There is also concern that people may attempt to shoot down suspected drones, posing risks to manned aircraft operating nearby.
“Misidentification often occurs when UAS are mistaken for more familiar objects such as manned aircraft, low-orbit satellites, or celestial bodies like planets or stars,” officials explained.
Authorities emphasized that pointing lasers at aircraft can temporarily blind pilots and create potentially deadly situations. Shooting at what is believed to be a drone could also result in catastrophic consequences if the target is, in fact, a manned aircraft.
The FBI, New Jersey State Police, and other agencies have been working nightly for weeks to investigate UAS activity, using advanced tools to identify illegal or unsafe operations. Officials recommend that the public utilize online tools and mobile apps that track manned aircraft, satellites, and visible celestial objects to help reduce misidentifications.
