Mysterious drones in New Jersey: What we do and don’t know about the sightings

A large number mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey and the East Coast in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern about who sent them and why.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey and wrote about it on X.

Murphy and law enforcement officials have emphasized that the drones does not appear to be a threat to public safetybut many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules on who can fly the unmanned aircraft.

The FBI is among several agencies investigating and has asked residents to share videos, photos and other information they may have about the drones.

What’s with the drones in New Jersey?

Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing them in the state since November.

First, they were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, which feeds Round Valley Reservoir, the state’s largest aquifer, about 80 kilometers west of New York City.

But soon sightings were reported across the country, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and production facility, and above President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

The planes have also recently been seen in coastal areas.

The Republican US Rep. Chris Smith said a Coast Guard commander told him a dozen drones were closely following a patrol lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County over the weekend.

Federal officials offer assurances that drones do not pose a threat

The growing anxiety among some residents is not lost on the Biden administration, which has faced criticism from Trump for not handling the case more aggressively.

In a call with reporters Saturday arranged by the White House, senior officials from the FBI, Pentagon, FAA and other agencies sought to reassure people that the drones are not a national security or public safety threat or the handiwork of a malicious foreign actor.

An FBI official, who spoke on condition of anonymity under ground rules set by the White House, said the public concern is understandable, but added: “I think there’s been a little bit of an overreaction.”

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that the military’s initial assessment, after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council — that the drones are not of foreign origin — remained unchanged.

New Jersey congressman wants the military to intervene

A New Jersey congressman has called on the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to bring down one or more drones to try to find out who deployed them.

The objects could be shot down over the ocean or in an unpopulated area on land, Smith said Saturday at a news conference.

“Why can’t we bag at least one of these drones and get to the bottom of it?” Smith said.

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, another Republican congressman from the Jersey Shore area, has also called on the military to shoot down the drones.

Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden said people should not take it into their own hands to shoot down drones, which would violate state and federal laws.

Drones have been spotted over New York City

Drone sightings have now been reported in New York, where a permit is required, and Mayor Eric Adams said the city was investigating and cooperating with New Jersey and federal officials.

The runways at Stewart International Airport — about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of the city — were shut down for about an hour Friday night because of drone activity in the airspace, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

“This has gone too far,” she said in a statement.

The governor urged Congress to strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones and give more investigative powers to state and local law enforcement.

“It’s important to extend these powers to New York State and our peers,” she said. “Until these powers are granted to state and local officials, the Biden administration must step in by directing additional federal law enforcement to New York and the surrounding region to ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure and our people.”

Are these drones dangerous?

The White House have said that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown legally, echoing the opinion of officials and drone experts.

The federal Homeland Security Department and the FBI also said in a joint statement that they have no evidence that the sightings constitute “a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign connection.”

Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security, said the reported drones have been up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes travel with their lights off. This is much larger than those typically flown by drone hobbyists, and she said they appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio.

Who sent the drones?

Authorities say they don’t know.

The FBI, Homeland Security and State Police are investigating the sightings. Authorities say they do not know if it is one drone that has been seen multiple times, or if multiple aircraft are being flown in a coordinated effort.

Speculation has run rampant online, with some expressing concern that the drone or drones could be part of a sinister plot by foreign agents.

Officials stress that ongoing state and federal investigations have found no evidence to support those concerns, but Rep. Smith echoed such speculation on Saturday.

“The evasive maneuvering of these drones suggests the sophistication of a major military power, raising the question of whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities — or worse — by violent dictatorships, perhaps Russia, or China, or Iran, or North Korea.” he said.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the planes are not US military drones.

What have officials said about the sightings?

Trump has said he believes the government knows more than it is saying. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he wrote on his social media.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday that the drones should be “shot down if necessary.”

“We should do some very urgent intelligence analysis and get them out of the sky, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Blumenthal said.

However, experts warn against shooting at anything in the sky.

Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, who lives near Round Valley Reservoir, where there have been several sightings, said she does not believe the claim that the drones are not a risk to public safety.

“How can you say it’s not a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why so many people are uneasy.”

Are drones allowed in New Jersey?

Flying drones for recreational and commercial use is legal in the state, but it is subject to local and federal aviation authority regulations and flight restrictions.

In New York City, a permit is required to take off or land an unmanned aircraft.

Operators must be FAA certified.

Have drones been seen elsewhere?

Sightings have also been reported in Virginia and elsewhere.

Two people said they spotted a plane Thursday night near Virginia Beach that was unlike anything they’ve seen.

The object was over the ocean and they watched as it slowly moved over an Army National Guard, John Knight told The Virginian-Pilot.

“It was definitely different,” said Knight, who took videos of what he believes was a drone the size of a small truck.

“It flew like a helicopter but made no noise,” he added.

The Virginia National Guard had no aircraft operating in the area Thursday night, according to spokesman AA “Cotton” Puryear. Its management is aware of the incident and it is under investigation.

Another military installation in the area is the Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex. NAS Oceana, the East Coast’s master jet base in Virginia Beach, is aware of recent reports of sightings in the area and is coordinating with federal and state agencies to ensure the safety of its personnel and operations, Katie Hewett, public affairs officer, said Friday. via e-mail.

Knight submitted the videos Thursday night to the FBI’s tip line.

In Massachusetts, 10 to 15 drones were reported hovering over a home Thursday night in Harwich on Cape Cod. A resident told police they were bright and she observed them for more than an hour.

Earlier that evening, an off-duty police officer in the same city noticed similar activity near a public safety complex, police said. The information was forwarded to the FBI and the Massachusetts State Police.

Drones were also seen last month in the UK This is reported by the US Air Force several small unmanned aircraft were spotted near four military bases in England used by US forces.

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Miller reported from Oklahoma City. Associated Press writers Bruce Schreiner in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and Aamer Madhani in West Palm Beach, Florida, contributed.