The mayor of a New Jersey town has done little to reassure residents about repeated drone sightings after sharing a disturbing experience he heard about.
Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali revealed on Facebook what happened to a resident’s robot when it came into contact with a mysterious drone hovering in the sky. He noted that “advanced” technology was at play on December 15.
‘A highly respected, professional and trustworthy Montvale resident told me with 100 percent certainty that his son’s hobby drone attempted to track one of the drones and it was ‘drone-jacked’.
‘He lost complete control of his drone and it disappeared into the sky. It appears these are very advanced drones with counter-offensive systems.”
However, what was intended as an informative fact made the local population more fearful and angry.
Many demanded scientific evidence, others accused the mayor of ‘mongering fear’.
“While I appreciate you bringing attention to this issue, I think you should stick to the facts and not third-hand rumors without evidence. Can we film this experiment with your drone?’ one challenged.
While another simply wondered: ‘Should that make us feel better?’
Montvale Mayor Mike Ghassali revealed on Facebook what happened to a resident’s robot when it came into contact with a mysterious drone hovering in the sky. He noted that “advanced” technology was at play on December 15.
“With all due respect, Mr. Mayor Mike Ghassali, it appears that posting on social media, declaring a state of emergency and going on TV interviews does not solve the matter. How do we get this to the attention of the state’s congressmen and senators so they can get answers from the FBI?’ an angry Facebook user demanded.
A concerned resident added: ‘So an unnamed person with an alleged son with an alleged drone claims it was allegedly ‘clone-jacked’??? Please stop spreading fear and be more responsible.”
Another demanded evidence, saying: ‘Where is the video of this happening?’
One resident just said, “Holy cow,” while another added, “This is crazy.”
‘We need answers. What were they? Whose were they?,” one Facebook user asked pointedly.
Another asked, “What’s the FBI going to do about it?”
“Stop trying to create more panic and fear by declaring something you don’t actually have the authority to do,” someone also commented.
Notably, Mayor Ghassali did not respond to the comments on the post or provide more information about the incident. DailyMail.com has reached out to the mayor for comment.
However, what was intended as an informative fact made the local population more fearful and angry. Many demanded scientific evidence, while others accused the mayor of ‘mongering fear’
The mayor later told city residents that “there is still no information on the owners, operators or origins of the drones, nor is there clarity on whether they will return to their original launch points.”
Two days before sharing the disturbing episode, Mayor Ghassali also announced a ban on flying drones over his city
This photo from Brian Glenn shows what appears to be multiple drones flying over Bernardsville
Two days before sharing the disturbing episode, Mayor Ghassali also announced a ban on flying drones over his city.
‘It’s becoming a complete joke now. The FBI has no control over the airspace, and yesterday my phone wouldn’t stop reporting drone sightings.
‘Granted, some were small planes, but we did have real drones on top of us. “So I make an emergency declaration: NO FLYING ZONE FOR DRONES over my city, Montvale.
‘FLY AT YOUR OWN RISK. Residents: please do not throw away your weapons,” he wrote on Facebook.
On December 19, a military base in New Jersey revealed one of the sinister reasons behind “multiple” drone incursions over the past year.
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Broadhurst County claims the increased drone incidents are related to attempts to smuggle contraband into a federal prison within the base’s perimeter.
In recent months, the Garden State has been plagued by thousands of unexplained drone sightings, while more than 5,000 reports of unusual drone prevalence have been filed with federal law enforcement agencies.
The unauthorized use of drones in recent years has been linked to attempts to sneak contraband, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, weight loss supplements and other prohibited items, into the facility
The base, commonly referred to as McGuire AFB, is home to a low-security facility, the FCI Fort Dix Prison, which houses the largest inmate population of any federal prison in the US.
“There have been multiple drone detections this year involving attempts to smuggle contraband into the federal correctional facility on our base,” base spokesperson Kitsana R. Dounglomchan said. The war zone.
However, Dounglomchan explains that the airspace directly above the joint base enforces “standing flight restrictions,” which prohibit drones or other aircraft from operating without permission.
The unauthorized use of drones in recent years has been linked to attempts to sneak contraband, including cell phones, cell phone accessories, weight loss supplements and other prohibited items, into the facility.
The base, located about 20 miles south of Trenton, “takes every matter seriously” and “aggressively coordinates” with local law enforcement agencies to ensure the safety of the site.
Several countermeasures have been implemented to detect unauthorized drone use in the restricted airspace, as many have tried to outwit the military using blackout tactics to dim onboard lighting, making the drones harder to spot.
In recent months, the Garden State has been plagued by thousands of unexplained drone sightings, while more than 5,000 reports of unusual drone prevalence have been filed with federal law enforcement agencies.