FBI warns against shining lasers at suspected unmanned aircraft systems
December 18, 2024
The FBI Newark and New Jersey State Police have condemned shining lasers or firing weapons at potential unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), highlighting the “dangerous and possibly deadly consequences if manned aircraft are targeted mistakenly as UAS”. The warning comes after increased reportings of ground-based laser activity from pilots in the wake of the alleged drone sightings.
With misidentification often occurring “when UAS are mistaken for more familiar objects such as manned aircraft, low-orbit satellites, or celestial bodies like planets or stars,” the authorities are particularly concerned about “the increase in pilots of manned aircraft being hit in the eyes with lasers”.
Laser strikes on aircraft are nothing new – with total recorded laser strike incidents reported to the FAA reaching over 13,300 in 2023, a sharp increase from 2022’s 9,457. Working with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to pursue civil and criminal penalties “against people who purposely aim a laser at an aircraft,” the FAA can impose penalties of up to $11,000 per violation or $30,800 for multiple incidents.
Authorities have previously indicated that the density of reported alleged UAS sightings align with nighttime arrival patterns at Newark-Liberty, JFK and LaGuardia airports, “modelling indicative of manned aviation being quite often mistaken for unmanned aviation or UAS”. The FAA adds that the Northeast Corridor is “one of the most congested areas in the US,” with an average of 1,610 daily flights between 5pm and midnight occurring within this airspace.
Last week, President Elect Donald Trump took to social media to suggest that the “mysterious drone sightings” be shot down. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!” he suggested; something law enforcement agencies have been quick to criticise. “There is also a concern with people possibly firing weapons at what they believe to be a UAS but could be a manned aircraft,” reiterated FBI Newark and the New Jersey State Police, who concluded: “There are many different websites and mobile applications the public can access through various government agencies and private companies that show flight paths for manned aircraft, satellites in Earth’s orbit, and stars and planets visible on a given evening”.
