FAA bans drones around Army-Navy game, but are they just manned aircraft?
- Reported drone sightings have surged in New Jersey, Maryland, and Massachusetts since mid-November 2024.
- Federal officials indicated that nearly all confirmed cases involved manned aircraft, rather than unmanned systems.
- This situation has sparked discussions on drone regulations and prompted calls for increased federal oversight.
In mid-November 2024, reports of drone sightings began to spike in New Jersey and subsequently spread to several states, including Maryland and Massachusetts. Officials from the White House, FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held a briefing to discuss these sightings, emphasizing that the majority involved manned aircraft rather than unmanned aerial systems. Despite receiving more than 5,000 reports, fewer than 100 warranted further investigation, and all significant fixed-wing sightings were attributed to manned aircraft. Investigations were ongoing, utilizing technical equipment and tip lines to examine the origins of the remaining credible reports. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) responded to the escalating situation by imposing temporary flight restrictions, particularly around sensitive events and military installations, such as a