- The FAA banned drone flights in wide swaths of New Jersey.
- Thousands of drone sightings have sparked concerns among residents and local officials.
- Federal officials have repeatedly said most of the sightings were crewed aircraft operating legally.
The Federal Aviation Administration has temporarily banned drones from flying over most of New Jersey.
The restrictions, which are in effect until January 17, impact more than 22 communities across the Garden State and prevent drones from flying within one nautical mile and up to 400 feet within the restricted areas.
“At the request of federal security partners, the FAA published 22 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure,” the agency told Business Insider.
The news comes after thousands of reports of “mystery drones” over the US East Coast for the past month have sparked concern from locals and lawmakers.
Officials have repeatedly said a most of the drone sightings are “actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully.”
Incidents of lasers being pointed at aircraft have also increased. The FAA said the number of lasers pointed at planes over New Jersey increased 269% in December compared to the same month last year.
“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,” the FBI said in a Monday statement, referring to unmanned aircraft systems.
There are over one million legally registered drones in the US. Federal regulations already prohibit drones from operating too close to an airport or flying higher than 400 feet without authorization.
