FAA Imposes Temporary Flight Restrictions For Drones Across New Jersey Amid Sighting Reports

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) for drones over more than 20 critical infrastructure locations across New Jersey, responding to a recent surge in reported drone sightings. The 30-day restrictions, announced Thursday, cover key facilities in major urban centers including Jersey City, Camden, Elizabeth, Kearny, Bayonne, and Bridgewater.

Despite the precautionary measures, a joint statement from federal authorities including the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA, and Department of Defense indicates that most reported sightings have been misidentified conventional aircraft or legitimate drone operations. Their analysis reveals that the observations typically consist of authorized commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones, along with conventional aircraft and even celestial bodies mistaken for unmanned aircraft.

“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” the agencies stated, reports the NPR.

Perhaps more concerning is the unintended consequence of the drone speculation – a dramatic surge in laser strikes against aircraft. The FAA reports a troubling 269% increase in laser incidents targeting aircraft over New Jersey during December compared to the previous year. These incidents represent serious safety violations and are federal crimes.

The temporary flight restrictions highlight the growing challenge of balancing drone integration with critical infrastructure protection. While federal agencies maintain there is no immediate public safety threat, the precautionary approach reflects the increasing complexity of managing unmanned aircraft in sensitive airspace.

This development comes at a time when commercial and recreational drone use continues to expand rapidly across the United States, placing additional pressure on regulators to develop more sophisticated airspace management systems. The situation in New Jersey may serve as a catalyst for more refined drone detection and verification protocols, particularly around critical infrastructure.

For drone operators in New Jersey, compliance with these temporary restrictions is mandatory. Violations could result in significant penalties and may lead to more permanent restrictions if security concerns persist. Commercial operators should consult the FAA’s drone portal for specific details about affected areas and duration of the restrictions.

Image courtesy of B. Kushner.