The FBI and three other government agencies stated in a joint statement Monday night that the many drone sightings by members of the public in East Coast states are not unusual and do not represent a threat to public safety or national security.
A variety of commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones, along with a few manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars, were among the items identified from over 5,000 tips that authorities received in recent weeks, according to the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Defense, and FBI. According to the organizations, almost 100 of those suggestions needed more examination.
“We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast,” the agencies stated in a joint statement. Nevertheless, we acknowledge that many communities are concerned. We still provide cutting-edge detection technologies and law enforcement support to state and municipal agencies.
The Pentagon “takes unauthorized access over its airspace seriously and coordinates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as appropriate,” the statement added, adding that local commanders are “actively engaged to ensure there are appropriate detection and mitigation measures in place.” The Pentagon also acknowledged that reported drone sightings over military facilities “are not new.”
Concerned locals have been reporting drones in New Jersey and other East Coast locations since at least mid-November.
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security declared last week that they had “no evidence” at the time that the drone sightings in New Jersey constituted a danger, and Monday’s announcement is similar to that declaration.
More than a million drones are legally registered with the FAA, according to the joint statement released Monday night.
“With the technology landscape evolving, we expect that number to increase over time,” added the statement.
Amid growing public anxiety and conspiracy theories surrounding the sightings, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, New York Governor Kathy Hochul, and some members of Congress have called on federal officials to provide more information.
At a press conference in Florida on Monday, President-elect Donald Trump stated that he would be canceling a trip to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and encouraged officials to disclose additional details regarding the claimed drone sightings.
Trump claimed that something odd was happening. They don’t want to tell folks for some reason.
According to two people with knowledge of the situation, the House Intelligence Committee is set to be briefed on the latest drone sightings nationwide on Tuesday afternoon. The briefing will be given at 2:00 PM ET by representatives of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the FBI, and the CIA.
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