In recent weeks, as reports of mysterious aircraft sightings in New Jersey and surrounding areas continue to increase, people’s attention to drones has shifted from the intense competition on the battlefield in Ukraine back to the United States. With no clear explanation from US government agencies, the event remains shrouded in mystery.
It all began in late November when some “fixed-wing aircraft” were spotted flying in the airspace over central and northern New Jersey, including near Donald Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal military base in Rockaway. In the following weeks, as reports of sightings continued to grow, local officials and legislators called on the federal government to provide explanations, with sightings expanding to a larger area including seven states – New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and Ohio – where witnesses reported encountering unidentified flying objects. According to witnesses, clusters of lights resembling drones were seen hovering over densely populated areas in New Jersey, with some even linking these phenomena to aliens.
On December 13, former President Trump shared a post on the “Truth Social” platform stating that mysterious drone sightings have been reported nationwide, questioning whether these events could be happening without the knowledge of the government and calling for transparency. Prior to this, several Republican lawmakers including Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia, Tim Burchett from Tennessee, Chris Smith from New Jersey, and Jeff Van Drew from New York, have urged for the shooting down of these unidentified drones.
On December 11, Congressman Jeff Van Drew mentioned he had heard from a “high-level source” that these aircraft may originate from an Iranian drone “mothership” in the Atlantic Ocean. However, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh quickly refuted this claim, stating that there are no Iranian vessels near the US coast launching drones. She added that the Pentagon’s initial assessment indicated that the drones are not from a foreign entity or adversary.
National Security Advisor John Kirby stated on December 12 at the White House that there is currently no evidence to suggest that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety, or are linked to foreign entities. While acknowledging that no known malicious activities have occurred, he emphasized the need for expanded legislation to better identify and mitigate potential threats to airports or other critical infrastructure posed by drones.
On December 15, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas assured the public that they are addressing the issue, with numerous drone sightings being confirmed. The FBI has yet to provide an explanation for the sightings, noting ongoing investigations during a congressional hearing on December 10.
Civilian drones are regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), with nearly 792,000 drones registered with the FAA, split evenly between commercial and recreational uses. The FAA has clear regulations regarding drone operators, specifications, markings, flight ranges and altitudes, no-fly zones, and authorization to shoot down drones. Temporary flight restrictions have been imposed by the FAA, prohibiting drone flights over Bedminster and Picatinny, while investigations into the reports continue.
There remains significant confusion about the exact nature of the sightings and how many may be cases of misidentification. The lack of detailed explanations from US government agencies and management concerning the ownership, origin, control, purpose, and capabilities of these aircrafts adds to the uncertainty.
Despite assurances from the FBI and Homeland Security that the sightings pose no current threat to national security or public safety, local officials continue to advocate for more information and urge the federal government to mobilize all resources, including military intervention, to investigate and halt unauthorized drone activities flying over critical infrastructure.
Apart from denying hostile origins of the aircrafts, the Pentagon has not provided further clarification, leaving unanswered questions about the ownership and origins of the drones. Given the implications for domestic security and the widespread public interest and unease, the Pentagon seemingly has no reason to withhold the truth, unless there are undisclosed reasons.
On December 16, President-elect Trump remarked during a press conference at Mar-a-Lago, suggesting that the government is aware of what is happening and should disclose more information regarding the drones. He expressed concerns about undisclosed happenings and urged for transparency.
Finally, on the evening of December 16, John Kirby appeared on Fox News and confidently stated that following a broad evaluation of the drones, they are found to be fully legal and normal activities recognized by the federal government, indicating no military involvement. He emphasized the legality of commercial, recreational, as well as law enforcement drone operations in unrestrictive airspace, providing reassurance that many of the reported sightings were indeed lawful and routine flights. Kirby’s explanation appeared to close the chapter on the highly publicized drone incident, with less military involvement than previously speculated, potentially alleviating concerns. However, with the lack of detail in Kirby’s explanation, doubts persist and only time will tell if people’s worries are truly resolved.