Two men from Massachusetts who flew a drone charged “dangerously close” to Boston’s Logan International Airport, police say.
Robert Duffy, 42, of Boston’s Charlestown neighborhood, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, of Bridgewater, were taken into custody late Saturday evening on Long Island, located on the airport approach, according to Boston police.
“The incident began earlier that evening, at 4:30 p.m., when a Boston police officer who specializes in real-time crime surveillance discovered an unmanned aircraft system (UAS) operating dangerously close. Logan International Airport,” police said in a statement. “Using advanced UAS monitoring technology, the officer identified the location, altitude, flight history and position of the operators on Long Island.”
“Members of the Boston Police Harbor Patrol Unit were dispatched to Long Island and located three individuals at the decommissioned Long Island Health Campus. Upon attempting to make contact, the suspects fled on foot,” police added. “Two of the three individuals were apprehended and identified as Duffy and Folcik. During the investigation, a drone was discovered in a backpack carried by Duffy.”
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Airplanes are seen at Boston’s Logan Airport in October 2020. (Stuart Cahill/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images)
Investigators believe the third person fled the island – part of the Boston Harbor Islands – on a “small ship.”
Duffy and Folcik are now charged with trespassing, although the Boston Police noted that more charges and fines could follow.
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There are numerous buildings on deserted Long Island near Boston, Massachusetts. (Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
Police also said that due to the “serious risks posed by the drone’s proximity to Logan airspace,” the Department of Homeland Security, the Massachusetts State Police, the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force were contacted , the Federal Communications Commission and Logan Airport Air Traffic Control to assist with the response.
Long Island, located on the approach to Boston’s Logan Airport, is shown here in the background on January 5, 2024. (David L. Ryan/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
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“The Boston Police Department is reminding recreational drone operators of the importance of adhering to Federal Aviation Administration safety guidelines. Operators are prohibited from flying drones over people or vehicles and must be aware of airspace restrictions,” Boston Police added. “Even small drones pose significant risks, including the potential for catastrophic damage to aircraft and helicopters. Near collisions can cause pilots to drift off course, endangering lives and property.”
