Drone incident

Amid growing public concern over mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey, experts are stepping forward to provide clarity and promote balanced discourse around the technology. Reports of drones, some described as car-sized clusters, flying at night have sparked alarm, particularly in areas near sensitive locations like Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal. While these sightings have prompted an FBI investigation, drone technology leaders stress the importance of separating fact from fiction to prevent undue fear and overregulation.

A Chinese national has been apprehended at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO), moments before boarding a flight to China, in connection with an unauthorized drone flight over the highly secure Vandenberg Space Force Base.

The National Football League (NFL), Justice Department, and FBI are urging Congress to act swiftly to bolster defenses against rogue drones threatening public safety at stadiums and critical facilities. Testifying before a House subcommittee on Tuesday, NFL security chief Cathy Lanier emphasized the urgency, stating, “The time to act to keep fans safe is now.”

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued a $270,000 fine against Henry “Hank” Borunda, a Colorado-based real estate developer whose viral “BumsNDrones” social media accounts depict his drones harassing the local homeless population.

US national security officials are grappling with a puzzling and potentially threatening series of drone sightings over key military sites, including Langley Air Force Base in Virginia and the Nevada Nuclear Security Site. Since late 2023, dozens of unidentified drones have breached restricted airspace, raising alarms among top military commanders and prompting high-level discussions in Washington, D.C.

A Boston man is facing serious legal consequences after flying a DJI Mavic drone dangerously close to the Boston Marathon finish line in April, prompting a dramatic mid-air interception by law enforcement.

In a sweeping move to enforce safety in US airspace, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has proposed a whopping $341,413 in civil penalties against 27 drone operators who violated federal regulations. The FAA has issued these fines for incidents occurring between October 2022 and June 2024.

In an unexpected twist during their headlining performance at a concert in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canadian rock band Arkells found themselves intrigued by an unauthorized drone that filmed their set. The Juno-winning group, performing at the Burt Block Party last weekend, spotted the drone hovering dangerously close to the stage, capturing what lead singer Max Kerman believes could be “kind of cool” footage.

This week Yifei and Seth discussing DJI’s possible loophole for getting around the possible ban, another drone is shot down, and more news from the week.

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A 60-year-old has been arrested by New York State Police for menacing in the second degree and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. The arrest followed an incident on June 18, when Ogdensburg resident Joseph H. Dishaw allegedly shot down a neighbor’s drone using a shotgun.

China’s top anti-espionage agency has issued a stern warning to drone users to ensure that their activities do not result in the leakage of state secrets. This warning from the Ministry of State Security (MSS), a part of a broader initiative by the Chinese government to bolster its counter-espionage efforts, comes at a time when the US is deciding its stance on China-manufactured DJI drones.

An amateur drone pilot who nearly crashed his DJI Mavic Mini drone into DJ Norman Cook, aka Fatboy Slim, in 2022 has been ordered to pay over $1,100 in fines by a UK court.

Here’s a fun little item that’ll lift enduringly grounded spirits around Gatwick and Dublin airports with a boost of schadenfreude. According to media reports, a UAV sighting caused flights to be halted for over hour in and out of the Chinese city of Shenzhen – headquarters and home of global drone giant DJI.

A New Jersey man has been arrested by police for using his drone to drop damaging chemical dye into the pools of his neighbors.

Extending a recent series of media stories about close-call aircraft-UAV incidents that’ve been heavy on fear-generating speculation and lighter on supporting facts, a UK daily has raised alarms with its account of a Royal Air Force (RAF) jet used by VIP passengers that “came within 30ft of smashing into an illegally flown drone” – reasons for seriously questioning the threatening object identified by crew notwithstanding.

Few incidents are better generators of headlines, public shivers, and the ire of UAV sector experts than reports of “near misses” between drones and piloted aircraft – encounters whose very definitions and delineations are often left to the subjective dread of the beholder. A recently released study, however, uses objective methods for analyzing such mid-air events, and offers suggestions for further reducing their relatively limited numbers.

A 41-year-old father of two, accused of illegally flying a drone into a “critical area” of Dublin Airport, is now facing the prospect of a jury trial after the charges against him were upgraded by the court.

London’s Gatwick Airport suspended flights on Sunday when – yet another – reported drone sighting near the facility led authorities to halt operations as a safety precaution until the all-clear was given.

Two men have pleaded guilty to illegally flying drones over Cincinnati Bengals and Cincinnati Reds games. They can now face up to one year in prison, one year of supervised release, and a $100,000 fine.

Hooligans used to be the biggest risk to people attending professional soccer matches in England, but a growing concern these days is possible frostbite while waiting for games to resume after being suspended by drones flying in the stadium.

Leading Taiwanese actor Kai Ko has been seriously injured after being struck by a camera drone on the set of a new Netflix series. The actor’s manager reports that the accident has led to the star requiring some 20 to 30 stitches on his face.