Mysterious drone sightings in US: What we know so far

Residents have even claimed that the drones are sometimes seen travelling in clusters. Amid speculations and obscure statements, people have not shied away from attempting to solve the mystery themselves. A Facebook page, ‘New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it’, has gained nearly 62,000 members with people posting their own conspiracy theories.

Where were the drones spotted?

The drones were first spotted near the Raritan River in New Jersey on November 18. Since then, such sightings have been observed in other parts of the state, including the coastal regions.

Picatinny Arsenal, which houses the US Army’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center, reported sighting such drones. So did people near the President-elect’s Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

New York City also reported several drones flying over the Bronx on December 12. Runways at the New York Stewart International Airport were shut down temporarily on Friday night after drones were spotted.

Former Republican Governor of Maryland Larry Hogan claimed that he sighted dozens of drones flying over his house in Davidsonville, approximately 40 km away from Washington DC. He said that the public is growing increasingly concerned and criticised government agencies for lack of transparency.

Residents and a police officer reported seeing 10-15 drones flying on Friday night in Harwich, Massachusetts, the Boston Herald reported. A resident claimed that she saw drones the size of an SUV hovering around her house.

Nearly 250 km away, in Barrington, New Hampshire, another family caught a similar sight on camera.

Police conveyed the information to the Massachusetts State Police and Boston FBI.

Wall Street Journal reported that drones were visible for 17 days near US military facilities in Virginia. Drones were also seen near US airbases – RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell – in the UK in late November, according to a statement from the US Air Force.

What are the theories on the origins of the drones?

There have been several speculations regarding the origin of the drones. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Democrat representative from Illinois’s Democrat 8th congressional district, has even suggested the Chinese Communist Party may be involved even as the White House and Pentagon refuted claims of any foreign involvement.

Jeff Van Drew, the Republican representative from New Jersey’s 2nd congressional district, suspects the objects are coming from an Iranian vessel in the Atlantic Ocean. The Pentagon has dismissed this claim too.

What have the authorities said so far?

The White House referred to the drones as “manned aircrafts”, which aligns with the claims by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

An FBI official told reporters the agency was working with 50 local, state and federal partners to look into increased reports. The official said less than 100 of the over 5,000 reported sightings had turned out to merit further investigation, and all of the large fixed-wing reported sightings so far involved manned aircraft.

National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said the drones pose no known security threat and that no drones were reported in restricted airspaces.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement which attributed the sightings to the increased commercial usage of drones. However, the FAA also warned that operators may face penalties of up to $75,000 and have their licences to operate drones revoked in the event that they are operated in controlled airspaces and near sensitive locations.

An FAA official said a temporary ban on drone activity issued over Picatinny Arsenal was due to expire on December 26 and could be made permanent. Another ban over Trump’s golf course in Bedminster that was due to expire on December 20, but could be extended.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote a letter to US President Joe Biden, urging him to extend counter-drone technologies to local law enforcement.

Amid the paranoia, New Jersey police have also warned of likely “copycats” as a smaller drone reportedly crashed into a homeowner’s backyard in Morris County, New Jersey.

‘Shoot them down,’ says Donald Trump

Donald Trump claimed Friday on Truth Social that government officials know more about the drone sightings. He added, “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise shoot them down.”

New Jersey General Assembly Member Dawn Fantasia of the Republican Party says the drones are up to 1.8 m in diameter and appear to avoid detection, contrary to Washington’s statements.

Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security Mark Green and August Pfluger, both Republicans, wrote a letter to the FBI, DHS, and the FAA demanding a classified briefing on the matter.

On the other hand, House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson is said to have received a classified briefing.

New Jersey’s new senator Andy Kim even spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in the rural north part of the state and posted about it on X.