Police arrested two Massachusetts men on Saturday for allegedly operating drones too close to Boston’s Logan Airport.
“The Boston Police Department reminds recreational drone operators of the importance of adhering to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines. Operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions,” Boston Police Department said in a statement.
“Even small drones pose significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic damage to airplanes and helicopters,” they added.
“Near-collisions can cause pilots to veer off course, putting lives and property at risk.”
Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, were arrested on a largely uninhabited Boston Harbor island known as Long Island, on charges of trespassing, with the possibility of additional charges coming. The pair were found in the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus where they fled on foot upon inquiries from police.
Police believe a third person was involved but have not located the individual.
“The incident began earlier that evening, at 4:30 PM, when a Boston Police Officer specializing in real-time crime surveillance detected an Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) operating dangerously close to Logan International Airport,” the statement read.
Lawmakers have recently been tasked with investigating suspicious drone activity across the nation with multiple aircraft sightings in New York, New Jersey and other states.
