In this image taken from video, what appears to be drones are seen flying over Randolph, New Jersey, on Dec 4, 2024. — MartyA45_ /TMX via AP
An Iranian mothership? Alien activity? Overly-dedicated hobbyists?
These are just a few of the theories being floated about the witness sightings of large, mysterious drones flying over New Jersey in recent weeks, spooking residents and prompting state lawmakers to demand answers from Washington about where the drones are coming from and if they pose any harm.
The Newark office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, state police and New Jersey office of Homeland Security and Preparedness have said witnesses over the past several weeks have described seeing “a cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed wing aircraft”. Local authorities are calling on the public to report any information they might have.
The drones have been spotted hovering above critical infrastructure such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments and military installations, Florham Park Chief of Police, Joseph Orlando, said in a Facebook post. Sightings have been occurring nightly, beginning just after sunset and lasting into the early hours of the morning, he added.
“At this time we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of a foreign adversary,” deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said during a Wednesday briefing. “These are not US military drones.”
On Dec 12, the White House downplayed concerns, saying they appear to be legally operated aircrafts, and the FBI and US Department of Homeland Security said they have not corroborated any of the reported visual sightings with electronic detection methods.
Over the next few days, New Jersey will be receiving technology with drone specific radar from the federal government, according to state lawmakers.
The sightings have sparked concern and conspiracies from both sides of the political aisle, similar to last year’s spy balloon incident from China that confounded civilians and legislators across the US. Outcry from Republicans and Democrats alike became so rampant at the time that officials had no choice but to postpone the first high-level visit to China in several years.
US Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey suggested Iranian involvement in a Wednesday hearing and urged the federal government to bolster its security and aviation technology to avoid potential harm from the drones. The Pentagon has denied his assertion about Iran.
State and local authorities have confirmed the sightings, prompting the FBI to open an investigation and the Federal Aviation Administration to impose flight restrictions over certain locations, including Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, according to US Senator Cory Booker. He called on the FBI, Homeland Security and the FAA to brief local officials as soon as possible about what they know about the unexplained drone activity.
National Security Council Spokesman John Kirby told reporters Thursday that there’s no evidence that the reported drone sightings pose a security risk or of any drones entering restricted airspace.
“We have not been able to – and neither have state or local law enforcement agencies – corroborate any of the reported visual sightings,” Kirby said at a White House briefing. “It appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully.”
Kirby said the ordeal highlights a gap in jurisdiction and urged Congress to pass legislation to expand “counter-drone authorities” to make it easier to spot and respond to issues.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, has tried to soothe concerns by saying that authorities at all levels of government have not seen any threat to public safety or any evidence that there are lifeforms on the drones.
Shoot Down
“Let’s not fear monger. There are a lot of conspiracy theories,” Murphy said in a call-in radio interview earlier this week. But he’d like to see the federal government take a more “robust role” and he wouldn’t be opposed to the feds taking action including shooting one of the drones down, he added.
Some residents are taking matters into their own hands to uncover the truth. A Facebook group called “New Jersey Mystery Drones” focused on solving the mystery behind the drones has amassed nearly 32,000 members, with people from across the state recounting their experience with the drones or expressing their fear about what their presence could possibly mean.
The New Jersey Senate Republican Caucus sent a letter to Murphy Thursday morning demanding more immediate federal action.
“You must insist that the Biden Administration immediately provide the necessary tools and resources to protect our state – including the authority to neutralise any drone that poses a threat,” wrote Republicans led by Senator Anthony Bucco in the letter. – Bloomberg
