The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented a temporary ban on drone flights over 22 towns in New Jersey, effective immediately and lasting until January 17, citing “special security reasons.” The FAA has not disclosed specific details about these security concerns.
The ban follows weeks of reports of drone activity across the state, including sightings over military installations such as Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County and Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County.
Under the restrictions, only authorized drones—such as those operated by law enforcement, national defense missions, or commercial drones with proper permits—are allowed to fly in the restricted zones. Drone operators must secure a special governmental waiver and comply with all federal aviation regulations.
The announcement comes just two days after a joint statement from the FAA, FBI, Department of Defense, and Department of Homeland Security indicated that recent drone sightings in New Jersey do not pose a national security or safety risk. Authorities insist that most sightings were linked to lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement operations, or misidentified objects such as airplanes and stars.
Federal officials have deployed advanced detection technology to address ongoing concerns and urged Congress to pass counter-drone legislation to enhance the government’s ability to manage potential threats.
The affected towns include Bridgewater, Jersey City, Camden, Edison, Bayonne, and others. The ban restricts drone activity from the ground to 400 feet of altitude in these areas.