The FBI is telling New Jersey residents not to shoot down drones or point lasers at manned aircraft

The FBI’s Newark field office this week urged New Jersey residents not to shoot down drones or point lasers at manned aircraft, taking to social media to warn against the dangerous — and potentially deadly — activity, which comes amid an increase in reported drone sightings along the US East Coast.

The drone sightings have sparked a collective sense of panic among residents, who have taken to social media to share photos and videos of believed drones caught in the dark American skies. The shared sense of fear-mongering has also given rise to some woke-like responses, with some social media users documenting efforts to take matters into their own hands, including via laser beam.

In the statement, released by the FBI and the New Jersey State Police specifically warned authorities against such activities, citing an increase in the number of pilots of manned aircraft in the area who have been hit in the eyes with lasers after being misidentified as a drone by a person on the ground.

‘DRONE’ SIGHTING IN THE NORTH-EAST CAUSES ‘UNLIMITED’ PANIC, EXPERT SAYS

New Jersey State Assemblyman Paul Kanitra took a photo of what appears to be several drones hovering in the New Jersey skies on Thursday, December 13th. (Paul Kanitra / “Fox News @ Night”)

Officials said there is also a concern that people on the ground could also mistakenly fire weapons at what they believe is an unmanned aircraft system, or UAS, but is actually a manned aircraft.

“FBI Newark, NJSP and dozens of other agencies and law enforcement partners have been out every night for several weeks to legally track down operators who are acting illegally or with malicious intent, using every tool and piece of equipment available to find the answers the public is . seeking,” authorities said in the statement. “However, there can be dangerous and possibly fatal consequences if manned aircraft are mistakenly targeted as UAS.”

They also noted how easy it can be for a person on the ground to mistake a manned aircraft for a UAS.

“Misidentification often occurs when UAS are mistaken for more familiar objects such as manned aircraft, low-orbit satellites or celestial bodies such as planets or stars,” they said.

“To improve accuracy and prevent false sightings, a variety of tools and techniques can be used to assist in the visual identification of suspected UAS. Accurate identification is critical to maintaining safety and ensuring appropriate responses to UAS activity.”

MORE THAN 20 DAYS INTO THE PHENOMENON, PENTAGON STILL HAS NO ANSWERS ON ORIGIN OF MYSTERIOUS NJ DRONES

Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., called for FISA reforms. (House Select Committee on Economic Disparity and Fairness in Growth)

The statement from the FBI field office and state police comes as New Jersey residents and lawmakers have expressed frustrations over the increase in drone sightings and what they see as a lack of response from the federal government in response.

Still, U.S. officials have tried to emphasize that the planes in question are not, in fact, a national security threat. Maj. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, stressed to reporters during a briefing Tuesday that the drones are any kind of government asset and ruled out that they were part of an “experimental program” being tested by the US government. US

In a joint statement Monday, the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense said that while they “recognize the concern” of the general public, there is no evidence that the drones are “abnormal” or a threat to the public safety or against the national security of the United States.

Separately, senior officials from the CIA, FBI and DOD traveled to Capitol Hill on Tuesday afternoon to brief lawmakers on the House Intelligence Committee about the increase in drone sightings.

A social media user said she filmed several drones hovering over Fairfield, Connecticut on Thursday night. (Lucy Biggers)

However, it is unclear how far these efforts have gone in countering the rise in public concerns.

The FBI said Monday it has received more than 5,000 reports of alleged drone sightings in the past “couple of weeks” — reflecting the rise in panic from some residents, including many who have taken to social media to document their sightings on social media. media.

Connecticut Rep. Jim Himes, R-Conn., used an interview on “Fox News Sunday” to urge more federal agencies — including the Federal Aviation Administration — to share more information about drone sightings with the public.

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“Especially the FAA, which is the agency with jurisdiction through the domestic skies, should be out Saturday morning saying, ‘Let’s show you a picture of the number of airplanes, commercial and private and military, that go over New Jersey in any 24-hour period. period,” Himes said.

“Just putting information out there to fill that vacuum would be helpful,” he added.