Drones in New Jersey: These questions require answers

Weeks of suspected drone sightings in New Jersey have apparently left residents with more questions than answers.

This includes the lack of responses from the FBI, which is currently investigating the drone sighting and is also assisting local law enforcement in their investigation.

Since these unidentified aircraft were spotted in November in parts of North Jersey, such as Morris County and along the Raritan River, residents and local officials have been demanding answers about what exactly is happening across the state.

Because there is so little information, the following remains unanswered while the investigation continues.

Do we know where the drones come from?

To the frustration of residents and local officials, the FBI, which is leading the investigation into the drone sighting, has no answer as to where the drones are coming from.

Robert Wheeler Jr., deputy director of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, went before Congress in Washington, D.C. and confirmed that the FBI does not know the nature of the drones.

“The office is actively investigating unexplained sightings of drone activity in this part of New Jersey, including proximity to sensitive locations and areas of concern. We do not attribute this to any individual or group. I don’t have an answer as to who that is.” “There is one or more people who are responsible, but we are actively investigating,” Wheeler said at the congressional hearing.

U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzalez (R-Texas) was visibly upset by the FBI agent’s lack of answers. “This is crazy,” Gonzalez said. “This is crazy.”

Other local leaders share this frustration. Gov. Phil Murphy and 18 other Morris County mayors issued a letter on the drones last weekend, calling for more support from law enforcement, the Federal Aviation Administration, the federal Department of Homeland Security and the New Jersey State Police.

The letter urged authorities to take “a reactive rather than proactive approach.”

Why wasn’t a pilot found?

With so many looking into the case, many are wondering why authorities haven’t figured out who is responsible for the drones.

William Austin, president of Warren County Community College, who also teaches drone piloting at the school, said there are ways to locate drones but wasn’t sure it would be that easy.

“If they are being flown legally — which may or may not be the case — they should have remote GPS detection on the drones,” Austin said back in November when drone sightings were first reported in Warren County. “So they should be able to identify who the pilots are and where they are by getting the data from the drone as it flies around. If they don’t have identification that they’re legally required to provide at this point, then that’s going to make it very, very difficult to find them.”

The professor went on to say that almost all drones for sale have a GPS chip, with the possible exception of cheaper “drug drones.”

Is there a threat to public safety?

Most of the statements said there was no known threat, which FBI agents confirmed, but acknowledged that the department had no information about drone sightings in New Jersey.

“There is nothing known that would cause me to say that,” Wheeler said during the congressional hearing on public risk. “But we just don’t know. And that’s the worrying part about it.”

Coast Guard officials confirmed that “several low-flying aircraft” were spotted along the Jersey Shore on Sunday evening, but said there was no immediate danger.

“I can confirm that several low-flying aircraft were observed near one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park, New Jersey. Although no immediate threats or disruptions to operations have been identified, the Coast Guard is assisting the FBI and state authorities in “Understanding the type, origin and intent of these aircraft and addressing potential security risks,” said Lt. Luke Pinneo, the U.S. Coast Guard public affairs officer.

That response came after New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith said a Coast Guard boat was tracked by more than a dozen drones Sunday evening while heading to a state park on the Jersey Shore.

Where don’t the drones come from?

While authorities are unsure where the drones are coming from, many rumors have been debunked by politicians and others.

On Fox News Wednesday morning, Congressman Jeff Van Drew said: “Iran probably launched a mothership containing these drones about a month ago. This mothership, I’ll tell you the deal, is off the east coast of the United States.” America. They launched drones.

This accusation has since been rejected by the Pentagon. “There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there is no so-called mother ship launching drones toward the United States,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a news conference Wednesday afternoon.

Singh also said: “These are not US military drones. This is being investigated by local law enforcement.”

The Picatinny Arsenal military research center in Morris County can also be excluded because the commander of its base issued a statement that the drones flying over the area were not theirs.

“While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remains unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activity,” Lt. Col. Craig Bonham II said in a news release.

Why didn’t the legislature say more?

Many press releases from local law enforcement have responded vaguely to the drone sighting in New Jersey, claiming they are still investigating the matter.

“We are working with our state and local partners on reported drone activity,” said Amy Thoreson, public affairs specialist at the FBI’s Newark office, when the drones were first reported in November.

When drones were spotted along the Raritan River in early December, the FBI spokesman again gave a vague response that the agency was aware of the situation. “Witnesses spotted the gathering of what appeared to be drones and a possible fixed-wing aircraft,” Thoreson said.

Other local authorities, such as the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, said they were also aware but did not know much about the type of possible aircraft.

“We want to assure the public that we will continue to monitor and investigate drone activity,” the Morris and Somerset County District Attorney’s Office said in a joint statement.

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