Mysterious Drone Sightings Persist in New Jersey: Here’s What We’ve Discovered

A significant number of enigmatic drones have been observed flying over sections of New Jersey and the East Coast in recent weeks, leading to speculation and unease about their origin and purpose.

Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, has reached out to President Joe Biden for clarification. Additionally, the state’s newly appointed senator, Andy Kim, dedicated Thursday night to searching for drones in rural northern New Jersey, sharing his experiences on X.

Although Murphy and law enforcement officials have emphasized that the drones seem not to pose a danger to public safety, numerous state and local lawmakers have still advocated for more stringent regulations regarding the operation of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The FBI is one of several agencies looking into the matter and has requested residents to provide any videos, photographs, or additional information related to the drones.

What’s the Situation With the Drones in New Jersey?

Numerous witnesses have reported drone sightings across New Jersey since November.

Initially, the drones were seen flying along the picturesque Raritan River, which flows into the Round Valley Reservoir, New Jersey’s largest aquifer, located roughly 50 miles west of New York City.

But soon, sightings began to occur throughout the state, including areas near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing site, as well as above President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

The drones have also been recently seen in coastal regions.

U.S. Representative Chris Smith indicated that a Coast Guard officer informed him that a dozen drones closely followed a lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County over the weekend.

Drones Have Been Observed Over New York City

Drones are now being reported in New York City, where a permit is required for operation. Mayor Eric Adams stated that the city is conducting an investigation and working with New Jersey and federal officials.

The runways at Stewart International Airport—approximately 60 miles north of New York City—were temporarily closed for about an hour on Friday night due to drone activity in the airspace, as mentioned by New York Governor Kathy Hochul.

“This situation has escalated beyond control,” she expressed in a statement.

The governor urged Congress to enact legislation that would enhance the FAA’s regulation of drones and grant more authority to state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate drone activity.

“It’s essential to extend these powers to New York State and to our counterparts. Until those powers are granted to local authorities, the Biden administration must intervene by deploying additional federal law enforcement to New York and the surrounding regions to ensure the safety of our vital infrastructure and communities.”

Are These Drones a Threat?

The White House has indicated that a review of the sighting reports suggests that many are, in fact, manned aircraft being operated legally, which echoes the sentiments of officials and drone specialists.

The federal Homeland Security Department and the FBI have also stated in a joint announcement that there is no evidence suggesting that the sightings pose “a national security or public safety threat or have foreign connections.”

Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who received a briefing from the Department of Homeland Security, noted that the drones reported are up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes fly with their lights turned off, which is considerably larger than typical hobbyist drones, and they seem to evade traditional detection methods like helicopters and radio signals.

Who is Operating the Drones?

Authorities remain uncertain about the identity of those responsible for the drones.

The FBI, Homeland Security, and state police are conducting inquiries into the sightings. Officials are unsure if it’s a single drone being spotted multiple times or several drones flying in a coordinated manner.

Online speculation has been rampant, with some expressing apprehension that the drone or drones may be part of a malicious plot orchestrated by foreign agents. However, officials underscore that ongoing investigations have not uncovered any evidence supporting these concerns.

Two Republican Congressmen from the Jersey Shore, Smith and U.S. Representative Jeff Van Drew, have called for military action to bring down the drones, citing safety issues.

The Pentagon asserts that the drones do not represent a foreign threat.

Pentagon spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder stated Thursday that the military’s initial assessment, following consultations with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council—that the drones do not originate from abroad—has not changed.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh confirmed on Wednesday that the aircraft are not U.S. military drones.

What Have Officials Stated About the Mysterious Drone Sightings?

President-elect Donald Trump recently asserted that he believes the government possesses more information than it is disclosing. “Make it public, and quickly. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he wrote on his social media platform.

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut expressed on Thursday that the drones should be “shot down if necessary,” despite the ongoing uncertainty regarding the ownership of the unmanned aircraft.

“We should conduct urgent intelligence assessments and eliminate them from our airspace, especially when they’re flying over airports or military installations,” Blumenthal advised.

Nevertheless, experts caution against shooting at any aerial object.

Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, who resides near Round Valley Reservoir, where many sightings have occurred, expressed skepticism regarding the claim that the drones do not pose a risk to public safety.

“How can they assert it’s not a threat when they lack knowledge about its nature?” she remarked. “I believe that’s why so many people feel uneasy.”

Are Drones Permitted in New Jersey?

Flying drones for recreational and commercial purposes is legal in New Jersey, but it must comply with local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and restrictions.

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

Drone operators are required to be FAA certified.

Have Drones Been Seen Elsewhere?

Sightings have also been observed in Virginia and other locations.

Two individuals reported seeing an aircraft near Virginia Beach on Thursday night that was unlike anything they had encountered before.

The aerial object was over the ocean, and John Knight told The Virginian-Pilot they watched as it glided slowly over a Virginia Army National Guard facility.

“It was certainly distinctive,” Knight noted, stating he recorded videos of what he believes to be a drone about the size of a small truck.

“It moved like a helicopter but emitted no sound,” he added.

The Virginia National Guard confirmed it had no aircraft operating in the vicinity that evening, according to spokesperson A.A. “Cotton” Puryear. The leadership is aware of the incident, and an investigation is underway, Puryear stated.

Another military base in the area, Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex, is also looking into recent drone sighting reports. It is coordinating with federal and state agencies to maintain the safety of its personnel and operations, stated public affairs officer Katie Hewett via email Friday.

Knight submitted the footage to the FBI tip line on Thursday night.

In Massachusetts, 10 to 15 drones were reported hovering near a residence in Harwich on Cape Cod on Thursday evening. One resident alerted police about the luminous objects, claiming to have observed them for over an hour.

Earlier that same evening, an off-duty police officer in the same locality noticed similar drone activity adjacent to a public safety complex, according to police reports.

This information has been forwarded to the FBI and Massachusetts State Police, local authorities stated.

Last month, drones were also detected in the U.K. The U.S. Air Force reported noticing several small unmanned aircraft near four military bases in England utilized by American forces.

By Bruce Shipkowski and Ken Miller