Recent reports of drones swarming New Jersey skies have been largely debunked, with White House National Security Spokesman John Kirby announcing that many of the sightings are likely manned aircraft operating lawfully. The revelation comes after weeks of investigations into thousands of drone sightings reported in at least a dozen counties across the state.
These clarifications notwithstanding, many residents and local officials remain concerned, with some calling even for a temporary state of emergency. A total of 21 mayors from Morris County have called on Governor Phil Murphy to accelerate the release of an extensive investigation. In the meantime, discrepancies in what different officials say have added to the confusion. The military had previously reported unauthorized drone activity over sensitive facilities, including Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle, contradicting White House claims of no restricted airspace breaches.
Speculation about where the drones came from also ran wild. Congressman Jeff Van Drew suggested a foreign “mothership” off the East Coast; the Coast Guard has dismissed those claims, finding nothing to prove evidence of foreign activity. The congressman, along with Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal, has called for aggressive measures to be taken, including shooting down unauthorized drones in sensitive areas. But that raises legal concerns because shooting at aircraft-manned or unmanned is a federal crime.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, have since taken over the sightings; so far, no evidence has surfaced linking the drones to malicious activity. Over 3,000 drone reports have been logged since mid-November, but law enforcement says there is no known threat to public safety.
While Kirby acknowledged that unmanned aircraft systems present risks, he attempted to assuage the public that investigations are underway and that nothing thus far has shown ill intent. Residents are asked to call the FBI with any information that might help advance the investigation.
