Dozens of drone sightings have been reported over New Jersey since 18 November, according to local authorities.
In nearby New York City, several drones were reported flying over the Bronx on 12 December, a police official told CBS News, the BBC’s US partner.
Officers who responded to the incident saw the drones flying overhead, but they disappeared soon afterwards.
In October, the Wall Street Journal also reported that mysterious drones were seen for 17 days near US military facilities in Virginia.
There has been no suggestion that the incident is related to the spate of reported drone sightings on the east coast.
five hours before.
Bernd Debusmann, Jr.
Washington’s BBC News.
After nearly a month of drone sightings over New Jersey, residents are still in the dark about what the flying objects are and whether they are drones at all.
The only conclusive response from US authorities has been that the objects are not thought to be a threat to national security or the public.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby told reporters Thursday that the images that were available indicated that many of the drone sightings that were reported were actually manned aircraft.
Legislators, however, have criticized the government’s drone policy and the dearth of public information.
Our knowledge is as follows.
In what locations have drones been seen?
Local authorities have reported dozens of drone sightings over New Jersey since November 18.
According to the Associated Press, the drones were first seen close to the Raritan River, which empties into the Round Valley Reservoir, the biggest in New Jersey.
Nearly immediately, the sightings extended to other regions of the state, including the coast of New Jersey.
Some of the flights were observed close to President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in the town of Bedminster, New Jersey, and the sensitive military research facility Picatinny Arsenal.
A police official told the BBC’s US partner, CBS News, that on December 12, multiple drones were seen flying over the Bronx in nearby New York City.
Officers responding to the scene reported seeing the drones fly overhead, but they quickly vanished.
New York State Police say they have also received reports of drones in other parts of the state.
Additionally, Connecticut police have confirmed that there has been “suspicious drone activity” in different parts of the state. Around the towns of Groton and New London, a drone detection system has been installed.
Possible drones spotted over Trump’s golf course are being looked into by the FBI.
Approximately 25 miles (40 km) from Washington, DC, former Republican Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland reported seeing what he described as “dozens” of drones over his home in Davidsonville.
He posted on X, “Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security.”. However, the federal government’s utter lack of transparency and contemptuous attitude are causing the public to become more and more alarmed and irritated. “.
The United States Air Force also confirmed in late November that unidentified drones were observed over three US airbases in the United Kingdom: RAF Feltwell in Norfolk, RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk.
The BBC was informed by UK defense sources that a “state actor” was suspected of being behind the incursions.
The Wall Street Journal also revealed in October that enigmatic drones were spotted for 17 days close to US military installations in Virginia.
How have investigators responded to the drones?
Officials from a number of US agencies tried to reassure reporters during a call that the drones were neither a national security threat nor the product of foreign activity.
An FBI official stated, “I believe there has been a minor overreaction.”.
Authorities were eager to stress that investigations into the drone sightings were still ongoing while downplaying public concern.
“We can certainly see why people are worried. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) stated that this is one of the reasons huge resources are being allocated.
Additionally, the DHS stated, “It’s crucial to realize that there is currently no proof that there is a threat to public safety.”.
What kinds of things are these flying objects?
Authorities at the federal and state levels have stated that they do not think the drones are harmful or a threat to the national security of the United States.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia of New Jersey stated after a briefing with the Department of Homeland Security on December 11 that the drones seem to evade detection by conventional means like radio and helicopter.
The drones, according to Fantasia, “operate in a co-ordinated manner,” travel with lights off, and have a diameter of up to 6 feet (1.08 meters).
The White House’s assertion that these are “manned aircraft” contrasts sharply with her remarks.
According to the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, most sightings seem to be legitimate, manned flights.
In restricted airspace, none have been reported, the statement continued.
More people are using drones, which means more people are seeing them in the sky, according to a statement issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday.
Drones can be flown within controlled airspace around an airport without FAA authorization, over certain military bases, infrastructure, and national landmarks, and in airspace covered by temporary flight restrictions, it added, even though they can be flown in most places below 400 feet (121 meters).
Where are they from?
It is unclear who might be operating the drones if they are indeed drones, which is currently unknown.
The Republican representative from New Jersey, Jeff Van Drew, cited unnamed “high sources” to claim that they were from an Iranian “mothership” in the Atlantic.
The Pentagon quickly brushed the remark aside, stating that “there is no truth to that”.
According to deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singh, “no Iranian ship is off the coast of the United States, and no so-called mothership is launching drones towards the United States,” she told reporters.
Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois and a member of a congressional committee that examines China’s Communist Party, told NewsNation that there is a “non-trivial” possibility that China is involved.
According to him, “it’s definitely a possibility and the likelihood that they can then access data that is collected by these drones is very high.”.
Neither the White House nor the Pentagon have denied that the items are foreign-made.
Several lawmakers, including Van Drew, have resisted those denials.
The truth is that they have no idea what it is. Van Drew said to Fox News, “They have no idea what it’s about.”. “They know what it’s not about, but they don’t know where it comes from. That’s absurd. “..”.
Elsewhere in the nation, on December 11, a man from northern California was accused of using a drone to fly over and take photographs of Vandenberg Space Force Base, which is close to Santa Barbara.
Prosecutors claim the incident happened on November 30.
Yinpiao Zhou, a 39-year-old Chinese national, was detained shortly before he traveled to China. On Tuesday, he appeared in court, and no plea was accepted.
There is no indication that the incident has anything to do with the recent wave of drone sightings reported along the east coast.
Is it possible to halt the drones?
A number of lawmakers have proposed that the drones be shot down and their origin and intents examined.
These include President-elect Donald Trump, who implied that drones couldn’t be operating without government approval on his Truth Social media platform.
He penned, “Let the public know, and now,”. “Shoot them down or else.”.
Drone flights over Bedminster and Picatinny are also temporarily prohibited by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA also issued a warning, stating that drone operators who engage in risky or unsafe operations risk having their drone pilot certifications revoked and facing fines of up to $75,000 (£59,000).
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden on December 13th, asking federal agencies to “work together” to solve the mystery and to urge Congress to give local law enforcement access to counter-drone capabilities.
Residents have expressed a desire to take action against the drones themselves, but authorities have strongly cautioned against this since it is against the law.
One man wrote, “A good shotgun will fix that problem,” in response to a drone video on social media.
