Mysterious Drone Sightings Across East Coast Prompt Calls to Shoot Down Unidentified Aircraft
Mysterious possible drone sightings across the East Coast have prompted calls from civilians and some politicians to shoot down the unidentified aircraft. However, shooting at drones is dangerous and illegal, according to federal officials and experts.
The possible drone sightings, which started in November in New Jersey, have caused anxiety and concern and led to pressure on federal agencies to provide more information. Residents across the Garden State have reported almost nightly sightings since, and sightings have also been reported in New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
Experts warn that shooting down a drone could essentially “turn it into a missile,” and large drones crashing on land could cause “severe property damage and injury.” The risks of uncontrolled drone crashes could make “the situation far more dangerous than the drones themselves,” said Rick Smith, founder and CEO of Axon, which manufactures anti-drone technology.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and FBI officials have said they believe many of the suspected drone sightings are actually manned aircraft being misidentified by civilians and that they have no evidence of any threat posed or any foreign involvement.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has also warned that private citizens shooting at any aircraft, including drones, “poses a significant safety hazard.” An unmanned aircraft hit by gunfire could crash, causing damage to persons or property on the ground, or it could collide with other objects in the air.
Despite the dangers and legal consequences posed by shooting at aircraft, calls to shoot down possible drones have come from official sources, including the President-elect. However, experts and officials have emphasized that shooting at drones is illegal and could have serious consequences.
Instead, authorities are focusing on documenting the aircraft and using technical capabilities to try to “defeat” a drone, including jamming a signal, disconnecting it from the operator or remotely “hijacking” it. However, every option can pose numerous risks, and “blowing it out of the sky is the last resort,” according to a source familiar with the national investigation.
