(Tribune News Service) — Boston police arrested two men who flew a drone “dangerously close” to Logan Airport Saturday evening.
Charlestown resident Robert Duffy, 42, and Bridgewater resident Jeremy Folcik, 32, have been charged with trespassing, but may face further fines and charges, Boston police said in a press release.
Around 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, a Boston police officer detected an “unmanned aircraft system” operating “dangerously close” to the airport, police said. Using aircraft monitoring technology, the officer identified the drone’s location, altitude, flight history and its operator’s position in Boston Harbor.
The drone’s proximity to Logan Airport’s airspace posed “serious risks,” so Boston police called in additional resources from Homeland Security, Massachusetts State Police, the Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Federal Communications Commission and air traffic control, police said. Officers were then dispatched to Long Island.
The officers soon found three people inside the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus and tried to speak with the suspects, but they ran away, police said. Two of the three were arrested around 10:20 p.m. and identified as Duffy and Folcik. Officers found a drone in Duffy’s backpack.
While Duffy and Folcik were taken away for booking, officers searched for the third suspect but were unsuccessful, police said. The third suspect is believed to have fled the island in a small boat.
Duffy and Folcik are scheduled to be arraigned in Dorchester District Court, police said.
“The Boston Police Department reminds recreational drone operators of the importance of adhering to Federal Aviation Administration ( FAA) safety guidelines. 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 airplanes and helicopters. Near-collisions can cause pilots to veer off course, putting lives and property at risk,” Boston police wrote in the release.
For more information on drone safety, visit FAA Drone Safety Guidelines.
“The Boston Police Department is committed to ensuring public safety and will continue to take necessary action against hazardous drone operations,” Boston police wrote in the release.
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