Two individuals were taken into custody late Saturday for operating their drone in close proximity to the airspace of Boston’s Logan International Airport.
The Boston Police Department arrested the pair on one of the Boston Harbor Islands around 10:20 p.m. The suspects were identified as Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, both residents of Massachusetts.
A third suspect managed to escape the island by boat, according to Boston police.
Boston authorities first noticed the drone near Logan Airport at 4:30 p.m. on the same day. Advanced technology was utilized to track the drone’s location, altitude, and flight history, leading them to the operators’ location on Long Island.
In response to recent drone incidents in the Northeast, multiple agencies including Homeland Security, Massachusetts State Police, and the Federal Communications Commission were involved in the investigation.
Boston police emphasized the dangers that drones pose to aircraft and the need to prevent potential accidents. The Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit apprehended Duffy and Folcik on Long Island, where they were charged with trespassing.
Reports of drone sightings have been widespread in several states, with authorities struggling to determine their origin or purpose.
New Jersey, in particular, has experienced a high number of drone sightings, sparking concerns about their potential threat. Efforts to locate the source of the drones have been unsuccessful so far.
