Why are mysterious drones flying over New Jersey?
The drones have been spotted flying over critical infrastructure such as US military research facilities and police departments.
Multiple drones are seen over Bernardsville, New Jersey
By Tips & Tricks News Guide
The night skies over New Jersey have lit up with sightings of dozens of mysterious drones, including some flying near President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.
Residents report that these drones, which seem larger than typical recreational models, have been observed almost nightly across the northeastern state since November 18. The initial sightings occurred near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility.
Who is operating these drones, and what is their purpose in New Jersey's skies?
In a December 4 Facebook post, Florham Park Police Chief Joseph Orlando warned residents about the ongoing drone activity. He noted, “Over the past two weeks, the [drone] sightings have been occurring nightly… starting just after sunset and continuing well into the early morning hours.” Orlando described the drones' presence as “nefarious in nature.”
He further noted that the drones have been spotted flying over critical infrastructure, including water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, train stations, police departments, and military installations.
On December 5, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy addressed the situation on the social media platform X, stating, “There is no known threat to the public at this time.”
On Monday, Governor Murphy told local media that drone sightings had increased in December, with 49 reported on Sunday, December 8, alone. However, he noted that some of these reports might have been duplicate sightings.
Despite reassurances, some residents, including New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, remain concerned.
“We know nothing. PERIOD. To state that there is no known or credible threat is incredibly misleading, and I informed all officials of that sentiment,” she wrote on X.
Who is operating the drones?
Currently, no one in the U.S., including the Pentagon and the FBI, has been able to provide an answer to the mystery of the drones.
In a Wednesday interview with Fox News, U.S. Congressman Jeff Van Drew claimed that "high-ranking sources" had told him Iran was responsible for the drone activity.
"That mothership... is off the East Coast of the United States of America. They’ve launched drones into everything that we can see or hear," he stated.
Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh addressed the claims during a news briefing in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday, stating, “There is absolutely no truth to that.
“There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there’s no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States,” she clarified. Singh added that the Pentagon’s initial assessment indicates the drones were not launched by any “foreign entity.”
Meanwhile, at a Congressional hearing on Tuesday in Washington, D.C., Republican Tony Gonzales described the situation as “madness” after FBI Assistant Director Robert Wheeler admitted the agency still had no answers about the drone flights.
“The bureau is actively investigating the situation… we do not attribute [the drones] to an individual or a group yet. But I don’t have an answer as to who’s responsible,” Wheeler told Congress.
What do the drones appear to be doing?
Flying drones in New Jersey is legal but comes with certain conditions.
According to local government regulations, “drones are permitted in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use but are subject to FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) regulations.” Additionally, drones must weigh less than 55 pounds at takeoff.
While it remains unconfirmed whether these drones exceed the weight limit, Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey, reporting from New York, noted: “Mysterious drones as large as a car, which first seemed like a local anomaly, are now capturing the attention of officials.”
The purpose of the dozens of large drones flying over New Jersey remains to be determined.
After meeting with state police and Homeland Security officials on Wednesday, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia shared on X that the drones appear sizable, with diameters reaching up to 1.8 meters (6 feet), and operate in an "uncoordinated manner."
She noted that the drones sometimes fly with their lights off, making them difficult to detect, and operate in unrestricted airspace.
“They appear to avoid detection by traditional methods, such as helicopters or radio frequencies,” Fantasia wrote on X.
According to the FAA, drones flown at night must be equipped with “anti-collision lights visible from at least three statute miles.”
Assemblywoman Fantasia further reported that authorities noted during the meeting that the drones can fly for “extended periods (6-7 hours) and cover distances of up to 15 miles (24 km),” raising more questions about their technology and intent.
As U.S. federal authorities continue to investigate the origins and purpose of the drones, New Jersey residents have taken to social media, sharing videos of the mysterious sightings.
Some locals have referred to the drones as "UFOs" (unidentified flying objects) from space, while others speculated that they might be jets leaving contrails in the sky and pursuing something. Additionally, some residents told local media that they believe the drones are “probably being launched from China.”
What will happen now?
Amid various conspiracy theories, Congressman Van Drew told Fox News on December 10 that "gaps in our (U.S.) airspace are being exploited, and because of it, the safety of Americans is at risk."
U.S. Senator Cory Booker, who represents New Jersey, wrote on X that he had sent a letter to the FBI and the Departments of Transportation and Homeland Security, urging "continued transparency and vigilance" during the investigations.
Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey reported that local police in New Jersey have deployed their own drones in an effort to gather more information about the mysterious ones. However, she added that, at this point, “there are more questions than answers.”
With frustration growing over the lack of clarity, some residents and officials have called for the U.S. military to intervene and shoot down the drones. However, U.S. laws prohibit such actions unless authorities can identify a specific threat to the public, which has not been established.
The FBI has urged all residents to report drone sightings directly to the agency and to email any photographs or videos, which will aid in their investigation. The U.S. Coast Guard is also assisting in the effort.
Meanwhile, the White House has stated that it is closely monitoring the situation and reassured residents that they are not in danger.
Is this the first time the US has experienced an incident like this?
This is not the first time mysterious flying objects have appeared in the sky.
In February, residents in Montana, a landlocked state in the western U.S., spotted a large balloon traveling across the country, including over sensitive military sites. After an investigation, Pentagon officials confirmed it was a Chinese surveillance balloon, which was later shot down by a U.S. fighter jet.
The Pentagon stated that the balloon did not collect any sensitive information, but Beijing expressed regret over Washington's response, claiming the balloon was a "civilian airship" conducting meteorological research.
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