NEW JERSEY (KYW Newsradio) — While there are screaming headlines lately on supposed drone sightings from the East Coast to the Midwest, it’s nothing new at the McGuire-Fort Dix joint base in New Jersey. Officials confirm that drone operators have been trying to breach their airspace for quite some time, for one specific purpose.
There is a federal correctional facility within the perimeter of the joint base and there have been numerous unauthorized flights over the years. Officials say there were several attempts to sneak contraband into the prison, but not lately. The most recent incident was on September 15th.
In a statement, officials at the base say they have counter-drone measures in place and the ability to take them down when needed. The base is a no-drone zone and there have been multiple sightings this year, all determined to be smuggling attempts. They say all of these cases are taken seriously and they aggressively coordinate with local law enforcement to ensure safety and security.
With a new drone ban implemented by the Federal Aviation Administration, some elected officials in New Jersey are hopeful some answers about the origin of suspicious drones will finally come to light.