Across New Jersey, reports of mysterious drone sightings have been increasing for weeks, with people contacting authorities and posting on social media about aerial vehicles behaving strangely, especially at night. Reports have also spread in New York City, with alleged sightings in Staten Island, Brooklyn and Queens. The US Federal Aviation Administration this week imposed a temporary ban in New Jersey on flying drones over the Army’s Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton and a golf course owned by US President-elect Donald Trump in Bedminster. While the mystery has become a growing sensation, there has been virtually no information available on whether the sightings are connected or represent anything out of the ordinary.
Vague and evasive statements by state and federal authorities have only complicated the matter and fueled public intrigue. However, on Thursday, a joint statement from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security emphasized that ongoing investigations at the state and federal level have found no evidence of foreign involvement or threat of any kind. The Department of Defense shared the same conclusion at a news conference on Wednesday. Additionally, the FBI and DHS added that none of the sightings have been verified to have been drones.
“We are supporting local authorities in New Jersey with numerous detection methods, but have not corroborated any of the reported visual sightings with electronic detection,” US authorities said. saying in a statement. “On the contrary, after reviewing the available images, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft operating legally. “There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted airspace.”
Multiple federal agencies have been collaborating with the New Jersey State Police in the investigation, but the FBI and DHS noted in their statement that, “while there is no known malicious activity in New Jersey, the sightings reported there, however, highlight the inadequacy of current authorities,” apparently referring to weeks of uncertainty over which institution was responsible for producing a public explanation for the sightings.
“Today I spoke with White House National Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall to discuss my concerns about the federal government’s response to recent drone sightings in New Jersey,” said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. wrote in a social media post on Thursday. “I will continue to press the federal government, including the FBI, for answers on behalf of the public.”
Other politicians, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Democrats of New York, and Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, Democrats of New Jersey, sent a letter to the FBI, DHS and the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday to demand more transparency and a briefing on the investigation.