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Recent reports from New Jersey have described sightings of large, unidentified drones in the skies over Morris and Somerset counties. The drones, some described as car-sized, have been observed since mid-November 2024. These sightings have alarmed local residents and drawn the attention of law enforcement and federal agencies, including the FBI.

Authorities have emphasized that there is no immediate danger to the public but acknowledge the mystery surrounding the drones. Their appearance near election season has heightened concerns about potential security risks. Investigations are focusing on determining the drones’ origin, purpose, and operators.

Local law enforcement agencies are collaborating with federal authorities to monitor the situation. Public statements have reassured residents that the activity is being closely watched. However, the lack of concrete information about these drones has fueled speculation and unease, particularly in the context of broader discussions about aerial security and unidentified aerial phenomena.

This case adds to ongoing debates about drone regulations, privacy concerns, and national security. The outcome of these investigations may shed light on these drones’ purpose, whether they are part of a private operation, a government program, or something more unusual.

Recent congressional hearings have included discussions about the sightings of unidentified drones in New Jersey. These hearings addressed public concerns regarding aerial security, especially with the drones’ proximity to critical infrastructure and sensitive events like elections. Officials were questioned about current investigative efforts, regulatory gaps, and potential threats posed by these unexplained incidents. Lawmakers highlighted the need for clearer drone identification and tracking systems, as well as transparency in handling similar cases in the future. These discussions form part of broader debates on aerial phenomena and security measures.

The United States has a long history with UFO phenomena, starting with the 1947 sighting in Roswell, New Mexico, which sparked global intrigue. During the 1950s and 1960s, UFO sightings surged, leading to investigations like Project Blue Book, a U.S. Air Force study to determine whether UFOs posed a security threat. In recent years, public and government interest resurfaced with the Pentagon’s release of declassified footage of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) in 2020, and congressional hearings have explored potential national security concerns surrounding these unexplained incidents.

The term UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) has replaced “UFO” (Unidentified Flying Object) in official discussions and reports. This shift aims to broaden the scope of investigation, avoiding the cultural connotations tied to UFOs and emphasizing a scientific approach. UAP encompasses a range of unexplained aerial observations, not limited to traditional flying objects, including atmospheric phenomena and advanced technological craft. The terminology change reflects efforts by agencies like the Pentagon and NASA to approach these cases with greater credibility and transparency.

I’ll now read a report published this Thursday 12th on CNN. The link is in the description of this episode.

“While many drone sightings have been reported, Kirby said images and videos of the drones that authorities and state and local law enforcement have reviewed appear to show that many of “the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully.”

The drone sightings are the subject of “an active federal investigation” led by the FBI, according to a document from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness distributed at a meeting Wednesday with state and local officials. CNN has reached out to both agencies for comment.

US Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York and US Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim of New Jersey sent a letter Thursday to the US Department of Homeland Security, FBI and Federal Aviation Administration requesting a full briefing on the situation.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he is also pressing the federal government for more answers. In a post on X, Murphy said he spoke with US Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall “to discuss my concerns over the federal government’s response.”

When and where have the drones been spotted?

The FAA reported sightings beginning in mid-November near Morris County. Some people have described the drones as the size of bicycles or small cars.

“We have reports from the public and law enforcement dating back several weeks,” the FBI field office in Newark said December 3.

New Jersey residents have described seeing the drones flying overhead, sometimes in clusters. Drone sightings have been reported around Morris and Somerset counties, according to local officials. Both counties are in the New York metropolitan area.

But the sightings haven’t only been among concerned residents. The US Coast Guard, part of the Department of Homeland Security, said one of its assets encountered the drones.

“Multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park,” Coast Guard Lt. Luke Pinneo told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

The aircraft were not seen as an immediate threat and did not interfere with operations, Pinneo added. CNN has reached out to the Coast Guard but did not receive an immediate response.

After drones were spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, the FAA issued temporary flight restrictions over the properties.

The Picatinny Arsenal Police Department confirmed 11 reports of evening drone activity between November 13 and December 6 near the Wharton-based facility. A confirmed report means a police officer or security guard personally witnessed a drone after or while receiving a report about a sighting, according to Picatinny Arsenal officials.

Facility officials confirmed the sightings are not the result of Picatinny Arsenal-related activities.

“The drone sightings are taking place well outside of hours when most of our workforce is at Picatinny,” a facility spokesperson told CNN.

While visiting family in New Jersey, travel content creator Katie Caf, 29, said she spotted five potential drones the size of bicycles on Saturday, moving in a “zigzag pattern.”

West Milford Mayor Michele Dale reported 60 drones flying over local reservoirs.

What are officials saying?

Federal agencies have ruled out any connections of local, state, or federal governments to the sightings.

“Based on everything we know, there is no public safety risks we’re aware of,” Murphy told CNN affiliate WBGO on Wednesday.

“Is it frustrating to have no answers? Is it frustrating to not have a source for these things? Yes,” the governor told the radio station.

The lack of answers from officials is alarming, Republican Assemb. Brian Bergen told CNN’s Pamela Brown Thursday.

Bergen said officials received little information at the Wednesday meeting with New Jersey State Police.

“There are tons of these drones flying over the state of New Jersey and we don’t know where they are coming from, where they are going to and who is flying them,” he said.

The drones primarily operate at night, often displaying flashing lights, but they turn off the lights and evade police helicopters when approached, Mayor Michael Melham of Belleville Township said in a Facebook video update on Wednesday.

It’s possible the drones can evade radar detection because they do not emit frequencies or possess evasion capabilities, Melham suggested.

Pentagon officials immediately refuted claims by US Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a New Jersey Republican, that the drones were from an Iranian “mothership” off the East Coast of the US.

“There is not any truth to that,” deputy Pentagon press secretary Sabrina Singh said. “There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there’s no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States.”

The sightings come as the US Department of Defense in a news release last week said drones present a “significant threat” to the US homeland.

The release, dated December 5, marked the signing by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin of a classified “Strategy for Countering Unmanned Systems,” which would unify DOD’s “approach to countering these systems … ”

“Unmanned aerial systems, most commonly known as drones, pose the most significant threat at this time and increasingly in the US homeland,” the release said.