NYPD uses drones to stop deadly subway surfing
The New York Police Department and Mayor Eric Adams have used drones since 2022 to spot people riding on top of moving subway trains in New York City; the program has detected and removed riders at stations, the NYPD says it has saved more than 200 people, and city data show 16 deaths and 21 injuries from subway surfing over the past three years. The article also notes a wrongful-death lawsuit by the mother of a 15-year-old victim against TikTok and Instagram parent companies and that a separate claim against the MTA was dismissed in June 2025.
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📰 Sources (1)
How the NYPD is using drones to combat deadly subway surfing
New information:
- NYPD reports the drone program (launched with the Transit Bureau and Mayor's office in 2022) has saved more than 200 people.
- City data cited: 16 deaths and 21 injuries from subway surfing in New York City over the past three years.
- Legal development: Norma Nazario has sued ByteDance and Meta for wrongful death; her claim against the MTA was dismissed by Judge Paul Goetz in June 2025.