BOSTON — Two Massachusetts men were arrested Saturday night on Long Island in Boston Harbor after operating a drone dangerously close to Logan International Airport’s restricted airspace, prompting a coordinated response from multiple law enforcement agencies.
Robert Duffy, 42, of Charlestown, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, of Bridgewater, face charges of trespassing, with potential additional charges pending further investigation. The arrests followed a hazardous drone operation detected earlier in the evening by a Boston Police officer specializing in real-time crime surveillance.
At approximately 4:30 PM, the officer identified an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) flying near Logan’s airspace, posing significant risks to aviation safety. Using advanced drone monitoring technology, police traced the drone’s flight history and located its operators on Long Island, part of the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus.
Boston Police Harbor Patrol officers, in coordination with Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control, were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, officers discovered three individuals, two of whom fled on foot. Duffy and Folcik were apprehended, while a third suspect reportedly fled the island in a small vessel.
A drone was later found inside a backpack carried by Duffy. Both suspects were transported to District A-1 for booking and are scheduled for arraignment in Dorchester District Court. Authorities are continuing to search for the third individual and are determining whether additional charges, including potential FAA violations, will be filed.
The Boston Police Department issued a reminder to drone operators about the critical importance of adhering to FAA safety guidelines, emphasizing that unauthorized drone flights near airports can cause catastrophic risks to airplanes, helicopters, and public safety.
