A New Jersey police department has sparked concern after revealing that a drone it sent to track a mystery plane “easily” evaded their device before disappearing into thin air.
Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said his force launched his drone after one of his officers spotted 50 unmanned aerial vehicles “coming out of the ocean.”
The officer called 911 to alert state police, the FBI and the Coast Guard.
The maritime agency subsequently reported seeing thirteen drones following their boat, and estimated the devices had a wingspan of eight feet.
Matronardy told NewsNationRich McHugh’s military set up an “industrial-grade” drone to track one of the devices, but it quickly slipped through their grasp.
The incident is just one of many drone sightings involving locals in the Garden State and beyond.
“If this isn’t our military, it’s even scarier,” McHugh said.
On Friday, White House national security communications adviser John Kirby insisted the public had nothing to fear despite the mass sightings.
Kirby said most of the reports were likely cases of manned aircraft being mistaken for drones.
Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said his officers sent a drone to track a mysterious plane and the device ‘easily’ evaded them before disappearing into thin air
They launched the drone after an officer reported seeing fifty mysterious flying objects emerging from the ocean
But he admitted officials were still struggling to confirm some sightings and urged the public to continue filing reports on unusual activity.
The Ocean County Sheriff’s Office said it has difficulty tracking the flying objects because they do not emit heat like regular drones.
‘We don’t know (why). It’s not something we’ve owned or experienced,” one officer said.
McHugh also spotted the drones and presented his findings on Elizabeth Vargas Reports, admitting the discovery left him stunned.
“If this isn’t the military, it’s even more terrifying. These things look like they have a fixed wing and multiple lights,” he said.
‘I don’t really know how to process what I saw last night. Both the photographer and I were somewhat bewildered.’
The first drone sightings appeared over the US Army’s Picatinny Arsenal and Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster on November 18.
Since then, the FBI has received more than 3,000 tips, with reports of varying levels of credibility surfacing in at least twelve New Jersey counties, as well as eastern Pennsylvania and Orange County, New York.
Ocean County Sheriff’s Office launched an ‘industrial’ drone to track one of the devices, with little success
The sightings are among those that have caused alarm in New Jersey and beyond
As hysteria began to spread across the country, newly elected President Donald Trump led the call for more transparency.
He demanded that the drones flying over several US states be shot down by the Biden White House after days of mysterious sightings in the skies.
He did not directly address the observations about his club, but urged action from Joe Biden and the administration in a Truth Social post Friday.
He wrote: ‘Mysterious drone sightings across the country. Can this really happen without the knowledge of our government? I don’t think so! Let the public know, now. Otherwise shoot them!!! D.J.T.’
His comments were echoed by New Jersey lawmakers and representatives from other states.
However, former FBI counter-drone specialist Robert D’Amico told DailyMail.com that shooting down the drones would be reckless and could result in serious injury or death.
He suggested the increase in messages is likely due to “hysteria” putting more untrained eyes on the skies, and people launching their own drones to try to find out what’s going on.