“Multiple drones” fly over Bernardsville, New Jersey

Federal officials announced this on Saturday Drone sightings throughout the Northeast actually are manned aircraftaccording to their investigations. The White House, the FBI and Ministry of Homeland Security also stated that there is no evidence of this Threat to national security.
An FBI official briefed reporters and said the agency was working with 50 local, state and federal partners to investigate the increasing reports. Of the over 5,000 reported sightings, fewer than 100 required further investigation. All large fixed-wing aircraft sightings investigated to date have been identified as manned aircraft.
“The combination of efforts to date… to include technical equipment, advisory information and recognized consultations has… not found evidence to support large-scale (unmanned aircraft systems) activities,” the official said, as quoted by Reuters, noting that many sightings along established ones flight routes took place. Officers continue to investigate the remaining cases using interviews, radar analysis and intelligence.
“We cannot ignore the sightings there,” the official added. “We are doing our best to find out the origin of this drone activity, but I think there was a slight overreaction.”
The Department of Homeland Security also took a similar stance in a joint statement with the FBI. “In the past, we have experienced cases of mistaken identity where reported drones were actually manned aircraft or facilities,” authorities said.
Last week, Biden’s national security spokesman, John F. Kirby, also said their investigation found no unlawful actions. “To the contrary, upon reviewing the available images, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft operating legally,” Kirby said Thursday.

Reports began in New Jersey in mid-November and spread to Maryland, Massachusetts and other states. President Biden will be regularly updated on the situation. Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey confirmed she was aware of the sightings and was monitoring the situation. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for increased federal enforcement after a local airport was briefly closed Friday due to drone activity.
A Federal Aviation Administration official said a temporary ban on drones has ended Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, which expires Dec. 26, could become permanent. A military official confirmed drone sightings over Picatinny and another naval weapons station but said there was no evidence of foreign involvement or malicious intent. Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey is under another temporary ban that expires Dec. 20 and may be extended.