Two Men Arrested for Operating Drone Hazards Near Boston Airport, Police Report
Authorities reported that a third individual escaped the area in a “small vessel.”
On Saturday evening, police arrested two individuals near Boston’s Logan Airport for what was termed a “hazardous drone operation,” amidst numerous reports of drones operating in the New Jersey region.
“The arrests occurred on Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands, following a hazardous drone operation that posed a threat near Logan Airport’s airspace,” the police stated. “Both individuals are facing trespassing charges, with the possibility of additional fines or charges in the future.”
It remains unclear whether the incidents at Logan Airport are linked to recent drone sightings reported in New Jersey and New York City.
According to police, a Boston officer identified a drone “operating dangerously close to Logan International Airport” before determining the location of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Police officials subsequently collaborated with state police, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies.
Officers from the local Boston Police unit encountered three individuals at the Long Island Health Campus, which has been decommissioned.
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“When officers tried to make contact, the suspects fled on foot. Of the three individuals present, two were apprehended and identified as Duffy and Folcik. During the investigation, police found a drone inside a backpack that was carried by Duffy,” the news release indicated.
The identity of the third individual has not been disclosed, but officials believe he escaped via a “small vessel,” as per the news release.
Last month, residents and officials began reporting numerous unidentified nighttime flights over New Jersey, which sparked concerns. Many of these sightings were initially reported near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Recreational and commercial drone use is permitted in New Jersey, but operators must comply with local and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. FAA certification is required for drone operators.
On Sunday, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) expressed his intention to urge the federal government to implement improved drone-tracking technology.
The New York Democrat is requesting that the Department of Homeland Security immediately implement special technology to identify and trace drones back to their landing sites, as indicated by his office.
“Many of us are feeling quite frustrated at this moment,” stated Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, in an interview with Fox News on Sunday. “Simply stating ‘We don’t know’ is not an acceptable response.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday that federal officials are set to provide a drone detection system to the state.
“This system will assist both state and federal law enforcement in their investigations,” Hochul stated. The governor did not offer additional information at that time, including specifics on where the system will be implemented.
This report was contributed by the Associated Press.
