In recent weeks, reports of mysterious flying objects have sparked concern and confusion across several states, with calls for military intervention. These objects, potentially drones, have been spotted over residential areas, restricted sites, and critical infrastructure, prompting increased scrutiny from federal agencies. Despite public concern, officials have stressed that there is no evidence suggesting that these sightings pose a serious security threat.
White House National Security spokesperson John Kirby reassured the public on Monday, stating that there have been no indications of any national security or public safety risks associated with these sightings. “We assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters, and even stars that were mistakenly reported as drones,” Kirby explained. He added that the FBI is reviewing around 100 tips related to the sightings, but none have raised alarms about malicious intent.
The U.S. government is taking steps to address the situation, including deploying advanced drone detection and tracking systems to two military facilities in New Jersey. The systems are being moved to Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research facility in northern New Jersey, and Naval Weapons Station Earle, located in central New Jersey. These facilities have been the site of several reported drone sightings, which led to temporary flight restrictions in the area. “Several instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace” were noted above Naval Weapons Station Earle, though no direct threats were identified.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy was briefed by the FBI on the investigation into the drone sightings, particularly around the Naval Weapons Station Earle. He expressed the state’s readiness to support federal authorities in resolving the matter. The sightings have disrupted some local air traffic, including a temporary closure of Stewart International Airport in New York due to drone activity. At the same time, airspace above Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio was restricted because of similar concerns. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder emphasized that the presence of drones is not uncommon, given that thousands of drones are flown across the U.S. daily. “It’s not that unusual to see drones in the sky, nor is it an indication of malicious activity or any public safety threat,” Ryder stated.
Despite these reassurances, local politicians continue to demand further investigation into the drone sightings. In Morris County, New Jersey, officials have called on the federal government to mobilize all available resources to address the unauthorized drone activity. Former President Donald Trump also weighed in on the situation during a news conference, raising questions about the government’s knowledge of the drone activities. “The government knows what is happening. Look, our military knows where they took off from,” Trump said. “If it’s a garage, they can go right into that garage. They know where it came from and where it went, and for some reason they don’t want to comment.”
Kirby responded to Trump’s remarks, emphasizing the administration’s commitment to transparency, but also cautioned against speculation. “What we’re not going to do is speculate, and we’re not going to hypothesize – we’re not going to, we’re not going to provide content that we can’t be sure is accurate,” Kirby remarked.
In an effort to manage public safety, the FBI and New Jersey State Police issued a joint statement urging the public not to shoot at suspected drones, warning that such actions could result in deadly consequences if manned aircraft are mistakenly targeted. The statement highlighted instances where pilots of manned aircraft had been struck in the eyes by lasers, likely due to misidentification of drones.
Drone ownership in the U.S. is widespread, with around 792,000 drones registered with the FAA, used for a variety of purposes such as photography, agriculture, and law enforcement. However, there remains significant uncertainty regarding the exact nature of the recent sightings. Some experts, including FBI supervisory special agent Tom Adams, believe that many sightings could be cases of mistaken identity, with people confusing aircraft or even stars with drones. “I can tell you from my firsthand experience…it was fairly common for planets, crewed aircraft and even low Earth orbit satellites to be misidentified as drones at night,” Adams explained.
The sightings have occurred across multiple states, including New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Ohio. In Morris County, New Jersey, residents have frequently reported seeing drones, often in clusters. Democratic Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey shared a video of what appeared to be a cluster of drones flying over the Round Valley Reservoir but later acknowledged that most of the objects were likely planes. Local officials have been briefed by federal agencies, with some reports indicating that the drones appear to fly in a coordinated pattern and can remain airborne for extended periods.
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul directed the state’s Intelligence Center to investigate the sightings, and announced that new drone detection systems would be deployed in the state. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also called for advanced detection technologies to be used to track drones. New York State Police reported that they were investigating numerous drone sightings, although no public safety threat has been identified.
Drone sightings have also been reported in other states, with Connecticut deploying a detection system to assist with investigations in Fairfield County. In Massachusetts, two men were arrested for flying a drone near Logan International Airport in Boston, while in California, a Chinese national was charged for illegally filming a SpaceX launch with a drone near Vandenburg Space Force Base.
Despite federal officials’ assurances that the drones do not pose a threat, there is still significant uncertainty about the source and intent of these sightings. Some officials, including U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, have called for greater transparency regarding the investigation. “One, we need a briefing for the members of the Senate to figure out what’s going on here,” Klobuchar said during an interview. “Two, we need more transparency.”
Local officials like Belleville Mayor Michael Melham have adopted a cautious approach, instructing police to call the bomb squad and requiring hazmat suits when dealing with downed drones. “We just don’t know what these things are, so we are being cautious,” Melham said.
As the investigation continues, federal authorities are working to clarify the situation, but some have suggested that the drone activity could be linked to a broader trend of increasing drone use, with some instances possibly being “copycat” behavior fueled by media coverage. The FBI, along with the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies, is working to determine whether the sightings represent a national security concern or simply a misunderstanding.
Despite ongoing investigations and heightened concerns, officials remain cautious about jumping to conclusions, and many agree that there is no immediate evidence to suggest that these drones represent a serious threat to national security. As the situation develops, authorities are continuing their efforts to monitor the skies and address the public’s concerns.