By Eddie Reksiedler

Published: Feb. 1, 2025

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WPTA) - The Indiana Department of Homeland Security reported an increase in unidentified drone sightings in Northeast Indiana.

Bernie Beier, the director of Allen County’s Office of Homeland Security, says the public’s input is crucial in identifying these drones.

“Take a picture if you can, give us a good description of how big it is, what it looked like, did it have something hanging under it, was it just a camera, was it too high to see? Did it have its red and green lights on, did it have its white anti-collision lights?” Beier said.

He explained that local offices don’t have jurisdiction over the airspace, so they play a supportive role to the Federal Aviation Administration, by collecting relevant data and relaying it to federal agencies.

According to Beier, Allen County has only had two reported sightings recently, both of which were confirmed to be non-suspicious in nature.

He says citizen reports are a big part of collecting data on these aircraft, but that there’s a right way to go about it.

“Your safety is paramount. Be safe first, don’t do stupid things. You have no reason to chase a drone or drive fast to get a better look, especially at night because you’re not gonna get a better look at night, you’re gonna endanger yourself,” Beier said.

It is also important to note that shooting at any type of aircraft, including drones, is a felony offense and a severe safety hazard. If you spot a drone near or above your property, “that’s the perfect time to report,” he said.

He says when you spot a drone, you should look for its red and green lights, as well as a white collision light. If those are present, he says the chances of that drone being engaged in illegal or improper activity are very low.

Another sign of improper use is the time of day and the altitude of the drone. FAA regulations require drones to fly at or below 400 feet, and although there are no restrictions regarding the time of day, drone activity at night should raise more eyebrows, as conventional drone uses such as land surveying will usually not take place at night.

Many sightings have been reported near farms affected by the Avian Influenza in nearby counties such as Jay and Van Wert. Beier says these are particularly worrying with concerns of the virus being transmitted.

They recommend that you stay away from these quarantined areas, and if you spot something, you should contact local officials to report it.