Mystery drone sightings keep happening in New Jersey. Here’s what we know (and don’t know)

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A slew of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey and the East Coast in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern about who sent them and why.

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New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey Sen. Andy Kim spent Thursday night on a drone hunting trip in rural northern New Jersey, and reported on it on Channel X.

Murphy and law enforcement officials stressed that the drones do not appear to pose a threat to public safety, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules on who can fly drones.

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The FBI is among several agencies investigating the matter, and has asked residents to share videos, photos and other information they may have about the drones.

What’s the deal with drones in New Jersey?

Dozens of witnesses reported seeing drones in New Jersey starting in November.

Initially, the drones were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, a waterway that feeds Round Valley Reservoir, the state’s largest aquifer, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of New York City.

But soon sightings were reported across the state, including near Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and above President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

The plane was also recently spotted in coastal areas.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith said a Coast Guard commanding officer told him that dozens of drones were closely following a Coast Guard lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County over the weekend.

Drones have been spotted over New York City

Drone sightings have now been reported in New York City, where a permit is required, and Mayor Eric Adams says the city is investigating and cooperating with New Jersey and federal officials.

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the runways at Stewart International Airport — about 60 miles (96 kilometers) north of New York City — were closed for about an hour Friday night due to drone activity in the airspace.

“This has gone too far,” she said in a statement.

The governor called on Congress to pass legislation to strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones and give more authority to state and local law enforcement agencies to investigate the activity.

“Expanding these powers to include New York State and our peers is essential,” she said. “Until these powers are granted to state and local officials, the Biden administration must intervene by directing additional federal law enforcement forces to New York and the surrounding region to ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure and our people.”

Are these drones dangerous?

The White House said a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually legally flying manned aircraft, echoing the opinion of officials and drone experts.

The federal Department of Homeland Security and the FBI also said in a joint statement that they have no evidence that the sightings pose a “threat to national security or public safety or have a foreign nexus.”

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The reported drones are up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes travel with their lights off, said Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security. This is much larger than those typically used by drone enthusiasts, and she said they seem to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopters and radio.

Who sent the drones?

Authorities say they do not know who is behind the drones.

The FBI, Homeland Security and State Police are investigating these sightings. Authorities say they do not know whether a single drone was spotted multiple times or whether there were multiple drones being flown in a coordinated effort.

Speculation has flared online, with some expressing concerns that the drone, or drones, could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents. Officials stress that ongoing investigations at the state and federal levels have found no evidence to support these concerns.

Two Jersey Shore Republican congressmen, Smith and U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot down the drones, citing safety concerns.

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The Pentagon insists that drones do not pose a threat from abroad.

Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that the Army’s initial assessment after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council — that the drones were not of foreign origin — had not changed.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said on Wednesday that the planes were not US military drones.

What did officials say about the mysterious drone sightings?

President-elect Donald Trump said he believes the government knows more than it says. “Let the public know, now. Or else shoot them!!!” he posted on his social media site.

US Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said Thursday that the drowned should be “dropped, if necessary,” even though it remains unclear who owns the drone.

“We have to do some very urgent intelligence analysis and get it out of the sky, especially if it’s flying over airports or military bases,” Blumenthal said.

But experts warn against shooting anything in the sky.

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Trisha Bushey, 48, of Lebanon Township, New Jersey, lives near Round Valley Reservoir where several of the drones have been seen, and said she doesn’t believe the assertion that drones don’t pose a public safety risk.

“How can you say it’s not a threat if you don’t know what it is?” she said. “I think that’s why a lot of people are uncomfortable.”

Are drones allowed in New Jersey?

Flying drones for recreational and commercial use is legal in New Jersey, but is subject to local and federal aviation regulations and aviation restrictions.

In New York City, a permit is required to take off or land a drone.

Operators must be FAA certified.

Have drones been spotted anywhere else?

Sightings have also been reported in Virginia and elsewhere.

Two people said they spotted a plane Thursday night near Virginia Beach, and it looked unlike any other they’d seen.

John Knight told The Virginian-Pilot that the flying object was over the ocean and they watched it move slowly over a Virginia Army National Guard facility.

“It was definitely different,” said Knight, who took videos of what he believes was a drone the size of a pickup truck.

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He added: “It flew like a helicopter but it didn’t make any noise.”

The Virginia National Guard did not have any aircraft operating in the facility area Thursday night, according to spokesman AA “Cotton” Puryear. Puryear said its leadership is aware of the incident and is under investigation.

Another military facility in the area is the Naval Air Station Oceana Dam Neck Annex. NAS Oceana, the East Coast’s primary aircraft base in Virginia Beach, is aware of recent reports of drone sightings in the area and is coordinating with federal and state agencies to ensure the safety of its personnel and operations, said Katie Hewitt, public affairs officer. In an email Friday.

Knight submitted the videos Thursday night to the FBI tip line.

Drones were also spotted last month in the UK. The US Air Force said several small drones had been discovered near four military bases in England used by US forces.

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Miller reported from Oklahoma City. Bruce Schreiner contributed from Shelbyville, Kentucky.

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