Two individuals were apprehended on Saturday night for flying their drone in a reckless manner dangerously close to the airspace of Boston’s Logan International Airport. The Boston Police Department reported that the pair was taken into custody on one of the Boston Harbor Islands around 10:20 p.m. The two men were later identified as 42-year-old Robert Duffy and 32-year-old Jeremy Folcik, both residents of Massachusetts. A third suspect is said to have evaded capture by fleeing the island in a small vessel, as per information provided by Boston police.
The Boston police first detected the unauthorized drone flying near Logan Airport at around 4:30 p.m. on the same day. Utilizing advanced technology, authorities were able to track the drone’s location, altitude, and flight history. The tracking technology further pinpointed the operators’ whereabouts to Long Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands. In light of recent drone-related incidents across the Northeast, the investigation concerning the drone near Boston became a collaborative effort involving various agencies.
Homeland Security, Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission, and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control all came together to address the drone situation. Boston police emphasized the substantial risks posed by drones, highlighting the potential for severe damage to aircraft and helicopters. Near-collisions with drones can result in pilots deviating from their flight paths, endangering lives and property, stated the Boston police in a released statement.
The Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit proceeded to the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus, an old medical school closed in 2014, where they apprehended Duffy and Folcik. The two men are now facing charges for trespassing, and additional penalties may be forthcoming pending further investigation. During the inquiry, a drone was seized from Duffy’s backpack by the authorities.
Reports of drone sightings have surfaced in various states, including New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, yet the motives behind these activities remain unclear. New Jersey, in particular, has witnessed nearly 1,000 drone sightings in a single month, making it a hotspot for such incidents. The recent spate of drone-related occurrences began when drones were observed hovering over Monmouth County, triggering concerns among authorities.
Despite efforts to combat the unauthorized drone activity, authorities have struggled to identify the source behind these incidents. Initially, suspicions arose that the drones may have been launched from a “mothership” positioned off the East Coast, a claim that was refuted by the White House. As investigations continue across different states, the mystery surrounding the purpose and origin of these drones persists.
Should you have any footage of drones flying over the skies of New Jersey or New York, you are encouraged to share it with The Post by emailing dr****@ny****.com. The collaborative efforts of multiple agencies and law enforcement bodies underscore the seriousness with which the authorities are addressing the unauthorized drone operations, aiming to safeguard airspace and public safety from potential risks posed by drone activities
