As reports of drones have surged across several eastern states, including New Jersey, New York, and Maryland, federal authorities are cautioning the public against meddling with unidentified flying craft.

Since November, the FBI has received tips about over 5,000 drone sightings, leading to increasing worries among locals who fear they’re encountering Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). This week, a joint statement from the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the FBI, and the Pentagon confirmed that they have found no evidence of any malicious activity related to these sightings.

Authorities clarified that many of these sightings don’t actually pertain to drones. Although there are over 1 million registered drones in the U.S., countless commercial, recreational, and law enforcement drones operate daily.

Previously, officials have warned against attempts to shoot down unidentified aircraft. Now, the FBI’s Newark division is alerting residents to another growing dangerous trend: using lasers to target these aircraft.

FBI Urges Public to Avoid Pointing Lasers at Unknown Aircraft

This past Monday, the Newark branch of the FBI issued a warning on X, formerly known as Twitter, urging the public to refrain from taking matters into their own hands concerning drone sightings.

“FBI Newark and New Jersey State Police want to inform the public about a rise in pilots from manned aircraft reporting being illuminated by lasers because onlookers believe they see an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS),” the announcement stated. “There’s also a worry of individuals potentially shooting at what they think is a UAS, only to target a manned aircraft instead.”

The statement continued, explaining that local and federal agencies have been searching the night skies for weeks to locate any illegal UAS activities. Due to frequent misidentifications—where people confuse standard aircraft, low-orbit satellites, or even celestial objects with drones—officials utilize various advanced methods and technologies to correctly identify airborne items.

“However, targeting manned aircraft mistakenly as UAS can lead to severe and even fatal consequences,” stated FBI Newark. “Proper identification is crucial for ensuring safety and appropriate responses to UAS incidents.”

The agency also recommended that those curious about what is flying overhead utilize the many websites and apps that track commercial flights, other manned aircraft, satellites, and even visible stars and planets each night.

Many of these resources can be accessed through FAA, NOAA, and NASA websites.

Is it Legal to Shoot Down a Drone?

Some officials, including Trump, have proposed that the military shoot down these mysterious drones to help identify them. Additionally, some residents have expressed readiness to aim at these crafts themselves.

However, despite the absence of pilots, the FAA classifies drones as aircraft. This means that it is a federal offense for civilians to shoot at them. If a drone is shot down and causes harm to people or property, the individual responsible could face civil liability.