A rash of mysterious drone sightings has led to pilots reporting a huge increase in being hit by laser pointers from the ground.
Laser strikes can temporarily blind pilots, causing significant distraction and visual impairment during critical flight phases like takeoff and landing. Even brief exposure can be hazardous, especially at night when the eyes are more sensitive to light.
According to a CNN report, FAA officials say pilots across the country report an average of 30 laser strikes per night.
But on Dec. 17, 2024, there were 123 laser strikes reported by pilots nationwide, including 24 over the state of New Jersey, FAA officials told CNN.
“The FAA has received dozens of new laser reports from pilots in airspace spanning New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania,” the agency said in a statement, first released to CNN. “In New Jersey, laser strikes are up significantly in the month of December. Pilot reporting has increased 269% over the same period last year.”
In another statement released Dec. 17, the FAA notes there are more than 1 million drones lawfully registered with the FAA in the United States.
“There are thousands of commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones lawfully in the sky on any given day,” FAA officials said. “With the technology landscape evolving, we expect that number to increase over time.”
Officials noted that the FBI has received tips of more than 5,000 reported drone sightings in the last few weeks with approximately 100 leads generated, and the federal government is supporting state and local officials in investigating these reports.
“Consistent with each of our unique missions and authorities, we are quickly working to prioritize and follow these leads,” the statement continues. “We have sent advanced detection technology to the region. And we have sent trained visual observers.”
“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” FAA officials added. “We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.”
“That said, we recognize the concern among many communities. We continue to support state and local authorities with advanced detection technology and support of law enforcement. We urge Congress to enact counter-UAS legislation when it reconvenes that would extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge.”
FAA officials added that there have been a “limited number of visual sightings of drones over military facilities in New Jersey and elsewhere, including within restricted air space. Such sightings near or over Department of Defense (DoD) installations are not new. DoD takes unauthorized access over its airspace seriously and coordinates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as appropriate. Local commanders are actively engaged to ensure there are appropriate detection and mitigation measures in place.”
For more information: FAA.gov
