A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern over who sent them and why.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft.
The FBI is among several agencies investigating, and it has asked residents to share videos, photos and other information they may have about the drones.
What Has Been Seen in New Jersey?
Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing drones in New Jersey starting in November.
At first, the drones were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, a waterway that feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, the state’s largest aquifer, about 50 miles west of New York City.
But soon sightings were reported statewide, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.
The aircraft have also recently been spotted in coastal areas.
Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said a Coast Guard commanding officer told him a dozen drones closely followed a Coast Guard lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County over the weekend.
Are These Drones Dangerous?
Murphy has said the aircraft do not pose a threat, but has not provided any details to support this.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security, said the reported drones have been up to 6 feet in diameter and sometimes travel with their lights switched off. This is much larger than those typically flown by drone hobbyists and she said they appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio.
The White House, FBI and Homeland Security said on Thursday they had no evidence that drone sightings reported in New Jersey posed national security or safety threats, despite concerns raised by lawmakers.
The FBI and DHS in a joint statement said “it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space. ”
White House spokesperson John Kirby told a news briefing that federal authorities were investigating the sightings in cooperation with New Jersey state and local law enforcement. Most of the sightings have been of aircraft operating lawfully, he said.
“While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authority,” Kirby said.
Kirby repeated White House calls on Congress to pass legislation to expand the ability of authorities to identify and counter drones that are a threat to airports or other critical infrastructure.
Officials and experts say some witnesses may actually be seeing planes or helicopters rather than drones, or perhaps are confused about the size of the devices they’re seeing.
“There are certainly big drones, such as a agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said Thursday. The organization with about 350 members, is headquartered in Pittston, Pennsylvania.
“I wonder a little bit if it’s sort of a type of fish story, as in ‘I caught a fish this big!’ type of a thing,” Deusler added. “At night, it’s hard to see how big the drones are, especially because they can be either closer or further away from you. To get that perspective of how big they are is really difficult.”
Who Sent the Drones?
Authorities say they do not know who is behind the drones.
The FBI, Homeland Security and state police are investigating the sightings. Authorities say they don’t know if it is one drone that has been spotted many times or if there are multiple aircraft being flown in a coordinated effort.
Speculation has raged online, with some expressing concerns that the drone or drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents. Officials stress that ongoing state and federal investigations have found no evidence to support those fears.
Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, Smith and Rep. Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot down the drones, citing safety concerns.
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) also said on Thursday that “we should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases.”
The Pentagon insists the drones do not represent a threat from abroad.
Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that the military’s initial assessment after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council—that the drones are not of foreign origin—remains unchanged.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the aircraft are not U.S. military drones.
Are Drones Allowed in New Jersey?
The flying of drones for recreational and commercial use is legal in New Jersey, but it is subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and flight restrictions.
Operators must be FAA certified.
Have Drones Been Spotted Anywhere Else?
Sightings also have been reported in neighboring New York and Pennsylvania.
Drones were also spotted last month in the UK. The U.S. Air Force said several small unmanned aircraft were detected near four military bases in England that are used by American forces.
The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.