Boston police arrested two men, Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, on Saturday night after they allegedly conducted a dangerous drone operation near Logan International Airport. The arrests occurred on Long Island, part of the Boston Harbor Islands, following a tip-off about a drone flying perilously close to the airport’s airspace. Authorities charged the men with trespassing and hinted at additional charges and fines related to the drone activity.
Authorities Act Swiftly to Intercept Drone Activity
The incident unfolded at 4:30 PM local time (21:30 GMT) when a police officer spotted a drone flying dangerously close to Logan Airport. Police quickly identified the drone’s location and tracked its operators to a decommissioned health campus on Long Island. Recognizing the threat posed by the drone’s proximity to the airport, FBI counter-terrorism agents joined the investigation.
When officers reached the scene, three individuals attempted to flee. Police apprehended Duffy and Folcik, discovering a drone inside a backpack carried by Duffy. The third suspect managed to escape the island on a small vessel and remains at large.
Drone Sightings Spark National Concern
This arrest comes amidst a rise in drone sightings across the US north-east, with hundreds of reports from states like New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Connecticut, and Massachusetts. Most of these sightings have occurred in New Jersey.
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas reassured the public, stating that authorities have not identified any threats to national or public security linked to these sightings. He attributed the increase in drone activity to recent changes in federal law, which now permit drones to fly at night. He emphasized the importance of allowing federal supervision to counter such drone operations effectively.
Federal and State Leaders Push for Stronger Measures
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has urged Congress to grant states more authority to combat unauthorized drone activity. Her call to action follows an incident at Stewart Airfield in New York, where drones temporarily closed runways on Friday night. Federal officials have already dispatched a drone detection system to New York, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has requested the same technology for New Jersey.
As investigations continue, police and federal authorities remain vigilant. The arrests of Duffy and Folcik mark an important step in addressing the growing challenge of unauthorized drone operations near critical infrastructure.
