The US government says the flying objects pose no threat to national security, but their origins and intentions remain unclear.
The mystery remains in the air after nearly a month of drone sightings over New Jersey, US, generating fear among residents and a heated debate over what the flying objects are and whether they are actually drones.
American officials were unable to provide definitive answers, saying only that the objects were not considered a danger to public or national security.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday (12/12) that available footage suggested that many of the reported drone sightings were, in fact, manned aircraft.
But some lawmakers have criticized the government’s handling of the situation and the lack of information available to the public.
Find out what is known about the case so far.
Where have the drones been seen?
According to local authorities, dozens of drone sightings have been reported in New Jersey since November 18.
The drones were initially spotted near the Raritan River, a waterway that feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, New Jersey’s largest, the Associated Press news agency reported.
The sightings soon spread to other parts of the state, including the New Jersey coast.
Some of the flights were spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal – a sensitive military research facility – as well as near President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in the town of Bedminster, New Jersey.
In nearby New York City, several drones were reported flying over the Bronx on December 12, a police officer told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner broadcaster.
Officers responding to the incident saw the drones flying, but they disappeared soon after.
According to the New York State Police, drones have also been reported in other parts of the state.
Connecticut police also confirmed that “suspicious drone activity” occurred in several parts of the state. A drone detection system has been implemented in the cities of Groton and New London.
In Maryland, former Republican governor Larry Hogan said he saw what appeared to be “dozens” of drones above his home in Davidsonville, about 25 miles from Washington DC.
“Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know whether this increased activity in our skies is a threat to public safety or national security,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“But the public is increasingly concerned and frustrated by the total lack of transparency and cavalier attitude of the federal government,” he added.
In late November, the US Air Force also confirmed that unidentified drones had been spotted over three US air bases in the UK: RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.
British defense sources told the BBC that suspicion fell on a “state actor” as being responsible for the raids.
In October, the Wall Street Journal also reported that mysterious drones were seen for 17 days near US military installations in Virginia.
What are these flying objects?
Federal and state officials have said they do not believe drones are dangerous or pose a threat to U.S. national security.
Following a meeting with the Department of Homeland Security on Dec. 11, New Jersey Rep. Dawn Fantasia said drones appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopters and radio.
Fantasia said the drones are up to 1.8 meters in diameter, travel with their lights off and “operate in a coordinated manner”.
His comments are in stark contrast to those of the White House, which suggested they were “manned aircraft.”
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security also said that most of the sightings appear to be legal manned flights.
None were reported in restricted airspace, the statement added.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) released a statement on Friday saying that more and more people are using drones, which means more and more people are noticing them in the sky.
The agency added that while drones can fly in most places below 400 feet (121 meters), they cannot fly within controlled airspace around an airport without FAA authorization; on designated facilities sensitive to national security; at some military bases, infrastructure and national landmarks; and in airspace covered by temporary flight restrictions.
Where do they come from?
If the objects were confirmed to be drones – which has not been confirmed so far – it is unclear who might be using the equipment.
Citing anonymous “key sources”, New Jersey Republican Congressman Jeff Van Drew said they came from an Iranian “mother ship” in the Atlantic.
The Pentagon quickly rejected the comment, saying there was “no truth to it.”
“There are no Iranian ships off the coast of the United States, and there is no so-called mother ship launching drones towards the United States,” deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.
Another lawmaker, Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi — who serves on a congressional committee examining the Chinese Communist Party — told NewsNation there is a “non-trivial” possibility that China could be involved.
“It’s definitely a possibility, and the likelihood that they could access the data collected by these drones is very high,” he said.
The Pentagon and White House have insisted that there is no foreign origin for the objects. Van Drew and other lawmakers reject these denials.
“The point is this: They don’t know what it is. They don’t know what it is,” Van Drew told Fox News. “They have no idea where they’re from, but they know what it’s not? It’s crazy.”
In a separate incident on the other side of the country, a Northern California man was charged Dec. 11 with flying a drone and taking photos of Vandenberg Space Base, located near Santa Barbara.
According to the prosecution, the accident occurred on November 30th.
The man, Chinese citizen Yinpiao Zhou, 39, was arrested shortly before boarding a flight to China. He appeared in court on Tuesday and no appeal was accepted.
There is no suggestion that the incident is linked to the spate of drone sightings reported off the east coast of the United States.
Is it possible to stop drones?
Several lawmakers have suggested shooting down the drones and analyzing them to determine their origin and intentions.
Supporters of this reaction include President-elect Donald Trump, who has used his Truth Social social network to suggest that drones cannot fly without the government’s knowledge.
“Let the public know, and now,” he wrote. “Otherwise throw them down.”
The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration also imposed temporary flight restrictions banning drone flights over Bedminster and Picatinny.
In a statement, the FAA also warned that drone operators who conduct unsafe or dangerous operations could face fines of up to $75,000 and have their drone pilot certificates revoked.
In a letter to US President Joe Biden published on December 13, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy called on federal agencies to “work together” to solve the mystery, as well as press Congress to expand anti-drone capabilities to local US police.
Some residents have suggested they could take action against the drones themselves, something authorities have strongly warned against doing because it is illegal.
“A good rifle will solve this problem,” one man commented on a drone video on social media.
Source: Terra
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
