What we know about the mysterious drones buzzing over New Jersey | Global News Avenue

Nearly a month of drone sightings over New Jersey has stoked fears among residents and sparked heated debate about what the flying objects are and whether they are drones.

U.S. authorities could not provide a clear answer, saying only that the objects did not pose a threat to public or national security.

On Thursday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that available images suggest many of the reported drone sightings are actually manned aircraft.

But some lawmakers have criticized the government’s handling of drones and the lack of information provided to the public.

Here’s what we know.

Dozens of drone sightings have been reported in New Jersey since November 18, according to local authorities.

The drones were first spotted near the Raritan River, a waterway at Round Valley Reservoir, New Jersey’s largest, the Associated Press reported.

The sightings soon spread to other parts of the state, including the New Jersey coast.

Some of the flights were spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a sensitive military research facility, and near President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in the town of Bedminster, New Jersey.

In nearby New York City, several drones were reported flying over the Bronx on December 12, a police officer told BBC US partner CBS News.

Officers responding to the scene saw the drone flying overhead, but it quickly disappeared.

Drones have also been spotted in other parts of the state, according to New York State Police.

Connecticut State Police also confirmed “suspicious drone activity” in multiple areas of the state. Drone detection systems have been deployed around the towns of Groton and New London.

In Maryland, former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan claimed he saw “dozens” of drones over his home in Davidsonville, about 25 miles (40 kilometers) from Washington, DC.

“Like many who have observed these drones, I don’t know if this increased activity in our skies poses a threat to public safety or national security,” he wrote on and frustration at the complete lack of transparency and dismissive attitude from the federal government.”

In late November, the US Air Force also confirmed that unidentified drones were spotted over three US Air Force bases in the UK: RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF No. RAF Feltwell, County Fork.

British defense sources told the BBC that “state actors” were suspected to be responsible for the intrusion.

In October, the Wall Street Journal also reported that mysterious drones appeared near U.S. military facilities in Virginia for 17 consecutive days.

In calls with reporters, officials from multiple U.S. agencies sought to reassure people that the drones were not the work of foreign actors and were not a national security threat.

“I think the reaction was a little over the top,” an FBI official said.

While downplaying public concerns, authorities were keen to reiterate that investigations into drone sightings were ongoing.

“We certainly understand why people are concerned. That’s one of the reasons we’re devoting significant resources,” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said.

“At the same time, it is important to understand that we do not currently have any evidence that public safety is at risk,” the Department of Homeland Security added.

Both federal and state authorities have said they do not believe the drones are dangerous or pose a threat to U.S. national security.

New Jersey Congresswoman Dawn Fantasia said after a briefing to the Department of Homeland Security on December 11 that the drones appear to be able to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopters and radios.

The drones, which are up to 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter, fly with lights off and “operate in a coordinated manner,” Fantasia said.

Her comments contrasted with the White House, which suggested these were “manned aircraft.”

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security also said most of the sightings appeared to be legitimate manned flights.

The statement added that no reports had been received in restricted airspace.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement on Friday saying that more people are using drones, which means more people are noticing drones in the sky.

It added that while drones can fly at most locations below 400 feet (121 m), drones cannot fly in controlled airspace around airports without FAA authorization; beyond designated national security-sensitive facilities ; certain military bases, infrastructure and national landmarks; and airspace covered by temporary flight restrictions.

If these objects are confirmed to be drones (which has not yet been confirmed), it is unclear who may be operating them.

New Jersey Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew cited anonymous “high-level sources” as saying they came from an Iranian “mothership” in the Atlantic Ocean.

The Pentagon quickly dismissed the comment, saying it had “no basis in fact.”

“There are no Iranian ships off the coast of the United States, and there are no so-called motherships launching drones against the United States,” deputy spokesperson Sabrina Singer told reporters.

Another congressman, Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi, who sits on a congressional committee that studies the Chinese Communist Party, told NewsNation that the possibility of China’s involvement is “very high.”

“It’s definitely a possibility, and the likelihood that they’ll be able to access the data collected by these drones is very high,” he said.

Both the Pentagon and the White House insist the objects have no foreign origin.

Van Drew and other lawmakers pushed back against those denials.

“Here’s the thing: They don’t know what this is. They don’t know what this is,” Van Drew told Fox News. “They don’t know where it comes from, but they know what it’s not? That’s nonsense.”

In another incident across the country, a Northern California man was accused of flying a drone over the Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara on December 11 and taking photos.

The incident allegedly occurred on November 30, according to prosecutors.

The man, 39-year-old Chinese citizen Zhou Yinpiao, was arrested before boarding a flight to China. He appeared in court on Tuesday but did not enter a plea.

There is no indication that the incident is related to the spate of drone sightings on the East Coast.

Some lawmakers have suggested shooting down the drones and analyzing them to determine their origin and intent.

That includes President-elect Donald Trump, who said on his “Truth” social media platform that drones cannot be flown without the government’s knowledge.

“Let the public know, now,” he wrote. “Otherwise, shoot them down.”

The Federal Aviation Administration also instituted temporary flight restrictions banning drone flights over Bedminster and Picatinny.

The FAA also warned in a statement that drone operators who conduct unsafe or dangerous operations could face fines of up to $75,000 (£59,000) and the revocation of their drone pilot certificates.

In a letter to U.S. President Joe Biden published on December 13, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged federal agencies to “work together” to solve the mystery and push Congress to expand counter-drone capabilities Go to local law enforcement.

Some residents have suggested they might take action against drones – something authorities have strongly warned against as it is illegal.

“A good shotgun will do the trick,” one man commented on a drone video on social media.