For weeks, mysterious drones have been appearing in the skies over New Jersey and other states, confusing locals and leading lawmakers to demand further explanations.
With no apparent reason, the drones have been illuminating the night skies since mid-November. Here is what we know about the phenomenon, however there are still many unanswered questions.
When were the drones first spotted?
On November 18, the drones were first seen in New Jersey. Although it is unclear if they are present every night, they seem to appear in the late hours of the night.
There have been claims of drone sightings every night but Thanksgiving, according to a senior official briefed on the New Jersey sightings, and there have been “little to no” reports of drones during the day, NBC News said.
Since at least December 3, NBC News has been following claims of potential drone sightings, primarily in New Jersey.
Where are the drones being spotted now?
Initially observed in North Jersey, the drones now seem to be spreading over the entire state. Additionally, NBC News has monitored reports of potential drone sightings in Florida, Maryland, and New York.
Where are they coming from and
why are they there?
Since authorities are unable to identify the origin of the enigmatic artifacts or provide a precise explanation for their presence, these continue to be the greatest mysteries.
“We don’t know who owns these drones or where they originate from. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, stated on Thursday that “we should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and taking them out of the skies.”
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., indicated that they were coming from an Iranian “mothership” on the east coast, but the Pentagon has stated that they are not military property.
What kind of drones are they?
According to officials, the drones could have a diameter of up to six feet and seem to be commercial-grade rather than recreational.
During a conference on Wednesday with a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson and New Jersey municipal officials, officials stated they are unable to verify if the drones are owned by American businesses or foreign organizations.
How many drone sightings have there been?
“No one from state or federal agencies was able to confirm exactly how many drones had been spotted over New Jersey,” mayors who attended the meeting on Wednesday told NBC News.
According to one, they are aware of “at least 400 sightings,” while another stated that “there could be thousands.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, stated in a Wednesday portion of a show on radio station WBGO that there may be “overreporting” of sightings, with several locals perhaps identifying the same device or confusing other flying objects for drones.
There were 79 reports of drone sightings in New Jersey between Thursday and Friday, according to a senior official informed on the incident.
According to several New Jersey officials, up to 180 drone sightings take place per night.
What have officials said?
The FBI is among the several officials who have stated that the drones don’t seem to be a concern, but they are unable to elaborate. The primary agency looking into the situation is the FBI.
Earlier this week, President Joe Biden received a briefing on the drones.
According to a U.S. Secret Service statement to NBC News, the agency “does not currently have any unmanned aerial systems operating in or around New Jersey or New York.”
A new website devoted to drones has been developed by the Federal Aviation Administration with the goal of providing answers to frequently asked questions concerning the flying gadgets.
Legislators frequently express the opinion that nobody truly understands what is happening.
In an article on X, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan said that “neither the White House, the military, the FBI, or Homeland Security have any idea what they are, where they came from, or who has launched or is controlling them and that they pose no threat.”
Lawmakers have also voiced their displeasure with the federal government’s lack of information and called for prompt responses.
“That response is entirely unacceptable,” Hogan went on to say. “I join with the growing bipartisan chorus of leaders demanding that the federal government immediately address this issue.”
Murphy, the governor of New Jersey, urged Congress to act in letters to Biden, Senators Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer, Rep. Mike Johnson, and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
Murphy stated that he would “encourage Congress to pass legislation empowering state and local law enforcement entities to use advanced detection and mitigation technologies to deal with UAS.”
What happens if a drone is over your house?
The FAA’s drone website states that drones must be piloted to ensure they pose no risk to people or their property and advises calling local law enforcement if you believe someone is using a drone in an unsafe manner.
Despite some lawmakers’ suggestions to the contrary, experts advised NBC News that you should not attempt to shoot them down.
Drone shooting is prohibited and may cause severe injuries, according to experts. Drones are considered aircraft by the FAA, and even when they are flying over private land, it is illegal to damage or destroy aircraft under the Aircraft Sabotage Act.
“There is a serious safety risk when a private individual shoots at any aircraft, including unmanned ones. When an unmanned aircraft is struck by gunfire, it may crash and injure people or property on the ground, or it may strike other objects in midair, according to the FAA.
Pramod Abichandani, an associate professor and director of the Advanced Air Mobility Lab at the New Jersey Institute of Technology, said it might also ignite fires.
According to Abichandani, “a drone has a lithium battery for the most part,” “The drone will fall somewhere if you shoot at it, provided you aim it accurately and hit everything. In addition to causing property damage, the lithium battery has the potential to explode and start a fire.
The risks of shooting into the night sky were also mentioned by Abichandani.
“God forbid that stray bullet lands somewhere and hits somebody,” remarked the man.
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