New Jersey mayors question FAA's decision to ban drones in 22 municipalities

NEW JERSEY (PIX11) -- New Jersey mayors say they’re receiving mixed messages about drones and the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to ban drone flights in 22 municipalities with critical infrastructure temporarily.

“It’s just a little concerning that they basically said there’s no public safety issue, but yet then right away they started banning airspace,” said Morristown Mayor Tim Dougherty.

Dougherty is trying to understand why Morristown was not included in the temporary ban - in effect until January 17th - specifically because it is home to Morristown Airport.

“I would think that the airport that we know the President-Elect is going to be going into that this would be an area they’d want to make sure is very secure,” said Dougherty.

Mayors in other towns say the choices seem random.

“It looks like someone took darts or maybe just traced over the top of the New Jersey Turnpike as to where these FAA bans have been placed,” said Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, who questioned why his town was not included, since it is home to Navy Weapons Station Earle.

“I think it’s a joke,” said Belleville Mayor Michael Melham. “Belleville, New Jersey has among the most critical infrastructure in the State of New Jersey. And the fact that they’re not here instituting a no-fly ban is ridiculous.”

That being said, Melham does not think the ban will do much good. “I think this is just optics,” said Melham. “They know it’s not gonna do anything.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul said the FAA plans to grant temporary flight restrictions over some of New York’s critical infrastructure as well. She calls the action purely precautionary. It is unclear which parts of the state may be impacted.