Drones flying in New Jersey, Pennsylvania raise questions

It started in mid-November. This was reported by the residents of the cities of New Jersey observation. Large unidentified drones, some reportedly the size of cars, flew low, sometimes in formation with bright lights and loud buzzing noises, dominating the once peaceful nights.

Locals now have more questions than answers as mysterious drone sightings continue — and appear to have spread.

Drones continue to be spotted in northern New Jersey, where they were once concentrated. Sightings have also recently been reported in South Jersey, the Pennsylvania suburbs of Philadelphia and New York City Staten Island. It is not clear whether the appearance of drones is related, because nothing is clear.

Michael Kush of Haddonfield came out of his home Saturday night after seeing online chatter about drones in his neighborhood. He spotted two drones and compared the sound to “the choppers in a Vietnam War movie.”

Kusch said he recently watched a small commercial drone take pictures of a home’s real estate — and that the vehicles flying overhead were nothing like that.

“It’s not scary to me, but it’s interesting,” he said. “Someone needs to explain something.”

For several weeks, witnesses have reported swarms of drones over northern New Jersey, including Morris, Somerset, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Sussex and Warren counties. The devices, reportedly larger than those typically flown by hobbyists, initially raised concerns among government officials because of their proximity to President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf course, city infrastructure and the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and development facility USA. .

The FBI and local police are investigating, and authorities have repeatedly said the drones do not pose a security threat, but have not provided additional details about who owns them or what they are for.

But even as the Federal Aviation Administration imposed new restrictions on drone flights in some targeted areas last month, residents say the flights continue. Some elected officials are speaking out.

In a letter On Monday, 20 Morris County mayors demanded action from New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy.

“These flights, which took place under the cover of darkness, caused serious concern among the more than 500,000 residents of the county and local officials,” the letter said. “The lack of information and clarity about these transactions has created fear and frustration among our constituents. Despite inquiries to the relevant authorities, we have yet to receive satisfactory answers about the purpose, operators or safety protocols governing these flights.”

Murphy said he was working with the White House, Homeland Security and others that day in hopes of getting answers “sooner rather than later.”

He added that there were nearly 50 reports of drone sightings in New Jersey Sunday night, but some were repeats and at least one was a small plane.

Josh Gottheimer, US Representative to run for governor of New Jersey next year, called for additional actions Tuesday. He sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration asking them to share more information about drone surveillance. Gottheimer said he is introducing new legislation to expand law enforcement’s access to drone tracking technology.

“We must ensure that New Jersey does not become the Wild West for drone activity,” he said.

Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) also issued a letter to US agencies asking for a comprehensive briefing and update to the public.

“I am aware of the need to ensure the operational security of ongoing investigations and that this situation requires complex interagency coordination. However, there is a growing sense of uncertainty and urgency across the state,” Booker wrote. “I believe that without transparency, rumors, fear and misinformation will continue to spread.”

A spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration said this week that the agency had nothing new to report. When the sighting was first reported on Nov. 18, the agency said it reviewed reports of unauthorized drones and conducted investigations when necessary. It says the temporary restrictions prohibit drone flights Picatinny Arsenal military base and Trump Bedminster National Golf Club. The agency has since added a third limitation in Staten Island.

Instead of official details, locals communicate with each other and document sightings on social media.

At Neighbors, a social media app run by smart doorbell company Ring, the conversation about drones seems endless. That’s how Kush, of Haddonfield, said he followed up on the sightings.

Residents reported multiple drones in Camden County on Saturday, comparing footage, sightings and theories. One Voorhees resident said he had seen “about 50” in recent days. Another expressed: “SO MANY DRONES WHY!!!???”

“I don’t understand why they don’t give us any information about them,” wrote one user.

A Camden County spokesperson said local emergency management is monitoring the situation and is in contact with law enforcement.

“The main thing we’re asking residents to do is if they see anything suspicious in the sky, to report it to local law enforcement,” the spokesman said. “If they see anything, try to record the date and time, location, duration and description of the drone and give that information to the police.”

In Delaware County, one Neighbors user posted cellphone footage of them counting large drones flying overhead. “They’re everywhere,” the man said as the whistling of drones was heard overhead.

Reports of drone sightings, unconfirmed drone crashes, and drone-related oddities and conspiracies have spread across social media. One Morris County Family told Fox News that when the drone hovered over them, their car’s clock temporarily changed.

Armchair internet conspiracy theorists speculated: insurance companies watching for fraud, the US military, or best of all, Santa Claus gone modern.

But the local military base said not to look at them.

A Picatinny spokesman said Tuesday that a military research base had recorded confirmed drone sightings of the target, but that the drones did not belong to Picatinny.

“While the source and reason for these aircraft operating in our area remains unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any activity related to Picatinny Arsenal,” the base said in a statement. statement. Base officials say they have recorded more than 11 confirmed cases of drone sightings over the facility since November 13, as well as several unconfirmed reports.

Enabled An enigmaapplication where users can share accounts and upload UFO sighting videosdevelopers noted a sharp increase in the number of reports in regions where drones were detected.

Enigma users filled in a self-reported card documenting 24 sightings in the past two weeks in the region.

In Philadelphia, one user said they written down “a triangular ship with three lights at the corners” flew low and slow last week. Another user documented in Bucks County seeing “several bright lights slowly hovering” during their drive through Carversville Sunday night.

“To me, the biggest worry in all of this is that someone either knows what it is and is keeping it a secret, or it’s an accusation that drones could be weapons and we obviously can’t stop them — we I don’t even know what they are,” Kush said. He paused for one final guess, “I guess the other option would be that the kids would get into serious trouble.”

People with information about drones are encouraged to call the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or submit information online by visiting tips.fbi.gov.