Which flying objects have been spotted in New Jersey? | New Jersey
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Which flying objects have been spotted in New Jersey? | New Jersey

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

Since around mid-November, hundreds of New Jersey residents have been calling law enforcement and state officials after spotting what appeared to be drones in the skies over about a dozen counties. The reports have become more frequent in the last few days. In some sightings, mysterious car-sized flying objects have been seen, sometimes in groups, over military installations and critical infrastructure such as energy facilities, train stations and reservoirs. Republican Senator Jon Bramnick said it was a “limited state of emergency.”

What are the flying objects?

No one has been able to properly identify them yet. White House officials say they are not part of the U.S. military and believe they are largely “manned aircraft … operating lawfully.” There is no suspicion of foreign involvement and there is no apparent threat to public safety or national security, the Pentagon said. Phil Murphy, the Democratic governor of New Jersey, called them “unmanned aerial systems,” or UAS, in a letter to President Joe Biden calling for further investigation. Given their size, some reports say about six feet wide, they are unlikely to be toy or hobby drones flown by amateurs.

Could they be UFOs or sent by a hostile foreign power?

The White House, the Pentagon, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI all say no. Although they don’t know exactly what the objects are, they are confident that they know what they are not. John Kirby, the government’s national security spokesman, told reporters on Thursday that there was no evidence of foreign involvement – adding that federal and state authorities had not yet confirmed any reported sightings. “In the past, we have experienced cases of mistaken identity where reported drones were actually manned aircraft or facilities,” an FBI statement released Friday said.

What do politicians say?

Discontent is growing across party lines about the government’s apparently dismissive reaction to the incidents. Murphy, the New Jersey governor, wrote to Biden asking for more resources for a federal investigation, citing his “growing concern” about the increasing frequency of the reports. The Republicans were more critical and sometimes accused the authorities of negligence. New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew told a House committee that he had information that the drones were launched from an Iranian “mother ship” off the coast and that the administration was “treating the American people as if we were stupid “.

Where else have they been seen?

In addition to New Jersey, sightings have also been reported in parts of Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia in recent days and weeks. On Thursday evening, Larry Hogan, the Republican former governor of Maryland, said he observed dozens of large drones over his home in Davidsonville for about 45 minutes. Overseas, drones have recently been spotted at a US air base in Germany and at RAF bases in the UK used by American forces. However, so far there is no known connection to events in the USA.

So what is being done about them?

The Federal Aviation Administration has set up no-fly zones for drones in some areas of New Jersey, including a military installation in Morris County and President-elect Donald Trump’s golf resort in Bedminster, while the investigation continues. Some local officials want a statewide ban. Since the Pentagon has not identified a security threat, it is leaving it to the FBI, working with state authorities, to better understand what the objects are and where they came from. The FBI’s Newark field office, in collaboration with state police, has asked the public for help.

What is the law regarding drones?

Drones and their flight are subject to strict FAA laws and regulations, which include mandatory registration for most types of private and commercial unmanned aircraft systems and restrictions on the location and time of flight. For example, it is prohibited to fly UAS near airports, military facilities and installations, and over people depending on their size. Shooting down drones is a criminal offense for security reasons. The FAA has the authority to close airspace to all drone flights at its discretion.

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