Two men were arrested Saturday night on trespassing charges after a drone came “dangerously” close to Logan International Airport in Boston, police said in a statement.
The incident began on Saturday afternoon when a Boston police officer detected an “Unmanned Aircraft System,” or UAV, operating “dangerously close” to the airport, according to police.
The agent used advanced UAV tracking technology to identify the drone’s location, flight history and position of its operators on the largely uninhabited Boston Harbor island known as Long Island, police said.
The Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit was dispatched to the island and found three people inside the Long Island Health Campus, which is closed. The suspects fled on foot, but two were captured and a drone was found inside one of their backpacks, according to police. The third person is believed to have fled in a small boat and the search continues.
Robert Duffy, 42, of Charlestown, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, of Bridgewater, were arrested and charged with trespassing, police said. Other fines and charges are possible. Police said the men will be charged in Dorchester District Court.
The arrests come as there are growing concerns about a number of in the North East in recent weeks. Authorities urged calm and emphasized that there is no evidence to suggest the sightings pose a security threat, but they increased pressure on federal agencies to provide more information about them.
A total of 791,597 drones are registered with the FAA, split almost evenly between commercial and recreational use. They are used in various sectors, including photography, agriculture and law enforcement.
Drone operators should not fly near airports because “it is difficult for manned aircraft to see and avoid a drone during flight,” the FAA states.
“The Boston Police Department reminds recreational drone operators of the importance of adhering to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety guidelines,” police said in a statement. “Operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions. Even small drones pose significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic damage to planes and helicopters. Near collisions can cause pilots to veer off course, putting lives and property at risk.”