Mysterious drone sightings: What we know and why you shouldn’t shoot them down

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — After large numbers of mysterious drones were spotted on the East Coast and even in Southern California, lawmakers are sounding the alarm, with many calling for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft.

Alexis McClellan sent Eyewitness News a video of an object above her home. It is not clear from the photos which object it is.

“It started over there, right there,” said McClellan’s husband, Jason Porras, pointing to the sky. “Then it went all the way across the plain and kept going. Then when it got to about here it stopped.” Is it a drone?

There have been several sightings on the East Coast and communities are on edge. Lawmakers are pushing federal officials for more information.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas suggested Sunday that a rule change could be the reason drone sightings have become more common at night.

“In September 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA, changed the rules to allow drones to fly at night,” Mayorkas said on ABC News’ “This Week.” “And that could be one of the reasons why people are seeing more drones today than before.”

Mayorkas said there are more than 800,000 drones registered in the U.S. and about 8,000 are flown daily.

Porras is concerned about privacy and security.

“Sometimes we see small drones flying around for no reason. We’re like, ‘Okay, why are these people flying these drones?'” Porras wonders.

The FAA regulates the use of drones. There is a section on the website showing that the aircraft needs to be registered. There are restrictions on flying in certain areas, such as airports, but not over a home.

“In general, you have no right to privacy and no control over the airspace that is directly over your home,” said aviation attorney Timothy Loranger.

But there is a law in California that protects you.

“California has laws that say drone operators can’t film people without their permission, and that’s helpful in some ways,” Loranger told Eyewitness News.

“If a drone is spotted over your home, do not attempt to knock it down,” Loranger said.

“You have no right to impede the flight of aircraft, and throwing a stone or shooting down a drone or doing anything that impedes the flight is against the law,” Loranger said. “You could be prosecuted for this.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.