Latest news such as sightings and tips are pouring in

The FBI has received tips about more than 5,000 reported drone sightings in the last month but says it has not uncovered anything sinister so far since the spate of sightings in the Northeast began stoking national security and airspace safety concerns.

The Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA and Pentagon said in a joint statement that the sightings had generated about 100 “tips.” The Biden administration has sent advanced detection technology and trained visual observers to the region and has closely examined the evidence and technical data, the statement said.

“Sightings to date include a combination of legal commercial drones, hobby drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and stars that have been incorrectly reported as drones,” the statement said. “We have not identified … a risk to national or public safety.”

President-elect Donald Trump has joined the outcry from government doubters who claim federal officials are withholding information. But White House national security spokesman John Kirby said on “Good Morning America” Tuesday that the federal government continues to be “honest and transparent” when it comes to drone activity.

“After days of going through the various tips, days of looking at analytics, and days of improving our detection capabilities, including visual observers on the ground, we came to the conclusion that these drones that these aircraft are seeing are a mix of law enforcement drones and commercial drones are drones and hobbyists,” Kirby said. “We continue to see nothing that suggests a public safety or national security risk.”

There are more than a million drones legally registered with the FAA, the interagency statement said, adding that thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones fly legally every day. The statement said that evolving technology will likely result in the number of drones increasing.

However, the statement added that the department understands the concerns and is supporting state and local authorities with advanced detection technology.

Drone sightings cause concern:But these theories could explain what’s happening

Pilots hit the eyes with lasers in the drone chaos

The FBI’s Newark office warned of an increase in laser attacks in pilots’ eyes because people on the ground thought they saw a drone.

FBI Newark, New Jersey State Police and dozens of other agencies and law enforcement partners have been out every night for several weeks to track down operators who are “acting illegally or with nefarious intent,” according to a statement from the FBI’s Newark office.

The FBI encouraged residents to access websites and mobile apps that display flight paths of manned aircraft, satellites, stars and planets visible on a given evening, allowing them to determine whether people are seeing a drone or something else.

“There could be dangerous and potentially fatal consequences if manned aircraft are mistakenly targeted as drones,” the statement said. “Accurate identification is critical to maintaining security and ensuring appropriate responses to (drone) activity.”

Visual explainer:Are those drone or airplane lights in the night sky?

The FBI fears people will shoot at planes

“There is also a concern that people may be firing weapons at what they believe is a (drone) but could be a manned aircraft,” the FBI said in a statement -Offices in Newark. The FAA says shooting down drones or other aircraft is illegal.

By law, drones can fly day or night as long as they are no more than 400 feet above the ground. Pilots and their drones must be registered with the FAA – and drones must be kept out of restricted airspace around airports and other sensitive locations.

Senator Rick Scott says the government is not being honest

Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott, a member of the Senate Homeland Security, Budget and Armed Services Committees, told FOX Business Network’s “Mornings with Maria” on Tuesday that the U.S. public does not trust the Pentagon, Homeland Security or the FBI accurate information. Scott, who has called for a ban on Chinese drones in the United States for security reasons, accused the federal government of withholding information from the public and Congress.

“I am a businessman. If someone came in and didn’t give me information about my company, I would fire them,” Scott said. “The federal government does it to U.S. senators every day. They come in and say things and know it’s complete nonsense or they leave the information out. So the American public has completely lost trust. So we have no idea what’s going on.”

Trump says Biden is withholding information

Trump said U.S. government officials, including President Joe Biden, knew more about the drones than they were revealing and were intentionally withholding details from the public. Trump said the US military knows where the drones take off and where they land.

“Our military knows. And our president knows it. And for some reason they want to keep people on edge,” Trump said Monday at a wide-ranging news conference at his private club, Mar-a-Lago, Florida. “I can’t imagine it’s the enemy, because if it was the enemy they would blow him away.”

Kirby denied that the government was withholding important information from the public.

− Francesca Chambers

Operating and lighting rules apply to drones

Drones that weigh less than half a pound can be registered online, but anything over that weight must be registered for a license through a more traditional FAA process. Drones, like other aircraft, must have special lights to be visible after dark.

Drones flown at night, starting 30 minutes after sunset and ending 30 minutes before sunrise, must have at least one anti-collision light visible from a distance of up to 5 kilometers and a flash frequency “sufficient to to avoid a collision,” it says to the FAA. Flying a drone for video or news gathering requires a drone pilot certificate and compliance with the FAA’s Small UAS Rule.

Authorization is required to fly a drone in airspace subject to temporary FAA flight restrictions, in controlled airspace surrounding an airport, and over a designated national security area, military base, infrastructure, or national landmark.

New Jersey’s mayor is frustrated by the lack of answers

Last week in New Jersey, Pequannock Mayor Ryan Herd made national headlines when he dismissed state and federal attempts to explain the sightings as “ridiculous,” adding that “our government is failing us.” Herd later told the USA TODAY Network he saw about 60 drones in two different sizes in the community. He compared the smaller models to being the size of a suitcase, while the others were more the size of an SUV.

Herd said he hasn’t received any answers from federal officials and is upset that Gov. Phil Murphy skipped a virtual meeting where numerous state mayors discussed the issue.

“I didn’t get any answers. Nobody knew anything,” Herd said.

2 men charged in Boston:Officials said they deployed the drone “dangerously close” to the airport

Two men charged over drone incident near Logan Airport

Two men were arraigned in Boston on Monday, accused of conducting a “dangerous drone operation” too close to Logan International Airport. Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, are charged with trespassing and burglary and were released without bail pending trial. According to police, a third suspect was being sought.

Attorney Michael Martin, who represents Duffy, called the incident a “time issue.” He told WCVB-TV that the case would have gone unnoticed if there hadn’t been more attention paid to drones recently.

“We cooperated with everything, there was no report of anything breaking, and honestly if this was two months ago it would have been like, ‘Guys, you shouldn’t be filming here,’ and it would be “Don’t be a big problem,” Martin said.

Drone sightings:Timeline of reports, arrests and calls for response

Timeline: Mysterious drones appear on the East Coast

In mid-November, people began spotting several large drones in New Jersey at night, usually between dusk and 11 p.m., according to the Asbury Park Press, part of the USA TODAY Network. According to the Morris County District Attorney’s Office in New Jersey, law enforcement patrol officers also discovered the drones. Prosecutors said at the time that multiple agencies, including federal and state law enforcement partners, would “coordinate, monitor and investigate drone activity.”

The FAA issued the first of two temporary flight restrictions on Nov. 22, banning drones over Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in New Jersey until Dec. 6. A second was later issued on December 4th, extending the restriction until December 20th.

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