The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday issued a ban on drone flights over nearly two dozen New Jersey communities, following persistent complaints about brightly colored — and largely unexplained — flying objects filling the night sky over the Garden State.
These temporary flight restrictions (TFR) essentially prohibit “drone flights over critical infrastructure in New Jersey,” according to an FAA statement.
The TFRs, which will last until Jan. 17, cover much of central and northern New Jersey, the nation’s 11th most populous state with more than 9 million residents.
Drone bans go as far south as Hancocks Bridge and as far north as Cedar Grove and Clifton.
Other notable communities affected by these new TFRs include Elizabeth, the state’s fourth most populous city, Philadelphia’s neighbor Camden, and the port city of Bayonne.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul said Thursday that the FAA plans to issue TFRs “over some of New York’s critical infrastructure locations,” saying the action is “purely precautionary; there is no threat to these locations.”
It was not clear when the TFRs in New York would begin or end.
Hochul said the state has “not identified any threats to public safety or national security” and that he will continue to monitor the situation, while calling on Congress to give states the “authority and resources they need to manage this evolving technology.”
For the past month, drones have reportedly been lighting up the night sky with no real explanation as to who is piloting them and what the purpose of the flights is.
However, there is a creeping skepticism about whether most reports are due to people confusing the stars or planes’ routine battles with drones.
Alarmed New Jersey residents and local politicians are demanding information about the nocturnal objects. No individual, group or government agency has taken responsibility for them.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
