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For Several Weeks Citizens Across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania Have Reported Sightings of Clusters of Large Drones in the Night Sky, Here’s What We Know and Don’t Know.
For over a month, citizens across the tri-state area - New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania - have reported thousands of sightings of clusters of large drones flying low in the night sky. Local law enforcement and the FBI are in active investigation, but so far no answers have been given to the public as the sightings continue nightly, and anxieties over the unexplained clusters of drones rise.
Here is what we know:
Morris County Prosecutor's Office announced on November 19, 2024, that officers had witnessed "drone activity" while "on patrol in Morris County" the night prior. Morris County Prosecutor's Office stated at the time that "there is no known threat to public safety," and urged residents to be mindful of rumors spreading on social media saying, "what [residents] read online may not be accurate."
At the time no information was given as to the type, size, or amount of drones observed by law enforcement. Morris County Law Enforcement did not provide updates relevant to how these sightings were being investigated or how the public could receive more information. Citizens were, at this point, encouraged not to call 911, but to alert their local police department.
In the following weeks, drone sightings were reported in eight New Jersey Counties and social media filled with videos of the drones flying over residents homes. The social media posts, usually accompanied by videos and pictures, described the drones as "large and loud." These videos showed lit objects, about the size of a small car, hovering in the night sky. These posts have continued to populate social media as the drone sightings continue nightly. Based on the timing of social media posts and Morristown Minute's own investigations the drones are typically observed flying between the hours of 4:30pm and 11:30pm.
What we know from the timing and description of the drones is that they are not your typical drones hobbyist can purchase at a retailer. These drones are large, sophisticated, and have thus far evaded law enforcement's efforts to pinpoint their takeoff and landing locations.
Beginning this December, reports of these drones spread to neighboring states of New York, with sightings of a cluster of dozens of drones reported in Staten Island, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The drones have been "reported above critical infrastructure such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments and military installations," said Joseph Orlando, Chief of Police for Florham Park, NJ.
The Federal Aviation Administration responded in early December by first implementing then extending "temporary flight restrictions" on drones over the Picatinny Arsenal military base and Bedminster, home to Present-elect Trump's National Golf Club. On December 3, the FBI joined several New Jersey law enforcement investigations and announced a public request for tips and more information on the "cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed-wing aircraft."
The drones have been spotted flying over four U.S. Air Force bases in the U.K., as reported by the New York Times on November 27. The U.S. Air force responded by saying that the drones have not impacted the bases operations and stated Officials of the Defense Department were "continuing to look into it."
Picatinny Arsenal has confirmed that the drones are not related to the U.S. military and that the base was contributing to the investigation. More than 20 Mayors across New Jersey signed a letter on December 9th calling for "transparency" in the investigation. Soon after Governor Murphy spoke on the drone sightings investigation during a bill signing on Monday saying, "it's really frustrating that we don't have more answers as to where they're coming from and why they're doing what they're doing." Murphy reiterated reports that the drones are highly "sophisticated" and "go dark" after being seen. The New Jersey Governor urged more law enforcement involvement and called for further transparency while officials search for answers.
Yesterday, the New Jersey State Police and Homeland Security held a "preparedness meeting" in Ewing, NJ. New Jersey Mayors along with other officials were told that federal authorities are actively investigating the situation in collaboration with the New Jersey State Police. Officials hosting the meeting confirmed that there have been similar sightings of large and sophisticated drones across the nation and internationally since November. Despite the active investigation, NJSP and Homeland Security said, at the meeting, that federal authorities have not been able to pinpoint the exact locations from which these drones are taking off and landing, and that the purpose or goal of these drones and their unidentified operators remains unclear. According to authorities, these drones do not have detection systems on them.
Town of Dover Mayor James P. Dodd, who attended the preparedness meeting said in a statement that "it appears there is a lack of technology and legislation currently available to effectively manage and monitor drone activity. Existing laws and resources have proven inadequate in addressing this emerging issue."
To date there have been over 3,000 sightings of drones in New Jersey reported to the FBI tip line established solely for the drone issue. Governor Murphy said on Sunday that New Jersey saw 49 reported sightings of these large and sophisticated drones.
New Jersey law allows for drones for both personal and commercial use, but requires operators to be certified and follow federal guidelines concerning their usage. According to FAA rules, drones must stay within view of the operator, a rule these drones in question are certainly guilty of breaking. Commercially available drones usually have a short battery life of 10 minutes to one hour - the drones in question seem to be filling up the night sky for hours on end, another hint that these drones are not for personal or commercial use.
Many residents on social media, rightly concerned, have wondered why law enforcement doesn't "shoot them down," or why anxious citizens haven't taken the matter into their own hands. It is generally illegal for citizens to "shoot down" another person's drone, and it can prove to be dangerous and even deadly. According to federal laws, the military can only take down drones by military bases that exhibit a "clear threat" - spying is not classified as a "clear threat." Additionally, technology usually used to dismantle aircraft like drones would be a risky move potentially putting citizens on the ground in danger or disrupting commercial airplanes. Despite rumors on social media, none of these drones have been shot down and no drones have crashed to this date.
According to a Fox News report, following these drone sightings the Pentagon released a classified new approach to dealing with suspicious drone sightings.
More information will hopefully reveal itself soon as local and federal law enforcement continues to investigate the situation. In the meantime, stay tuned for updates, alert the FBI to their tip line (1-800-CALL-FBI or online at tips@fbi.gov) on new sightings, and stay safe Morristown.
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Chris Connors
Editor
12-12-2024 1:37pm
Going forward, if you observe suspicious drone activity please report it to NJOHSP’s Counter-Threat Watch Unit at 866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.
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Chris Connors
Editor
12-12-2024 1:40pm
From Mendham Township Mayor Sarah Neibar & Chief of Mendham Township Police Department Ross Johnson -
"Yesterday, the New Jersey Department of Homeland Security held briefings regarding the drone activity in New Jersey. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) continues to be the lead agency for these investigations, the New Jersey State Police (NJSP) is coordinating with the FBI on any follow-up actions, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP) is providing training and situational awareness on these efforts, and we have been told that the U.S. Coast Guard is now involved as well. The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, Morris County Sheriff’s Office, the Morris County Office of Emergency Management along with the Mendham Township Police Department and our local Office of Emergency Management continue to be engaged with our state and federal partners as this investigation continues.
There have been many rumors and reports regarding the origin of these drones but, at this time, unfortunately, it is still unclear who is operating the drones and where they are taking off and landing. The NJSP has deployed helicopters to attempt to detect the drones but even with infrared cameras, they haven’t been able to. It is the FBI and NJOHSP’s hope that with additional Coast Guard resources and utilizing emerging technology that they will be able to detect the drone activity going forward. Additionally, an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Dashboard is in the process of being developed for tracking and managing drone sightings. Also, an in-person Counter-UAS Training starts in Monmouth County in January and will expand statewide.
Since we sent out the FBI Tip-Line and website last week, the FBI has received many reports. Thank you for reporting. Going forward, if you observe suspicious drone activity please report it to NJOHSP’s Counter-Threat Watch Unit at 866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.
We have received inquiries about “shooting down” the drones. At this time, state and local authorities do not have the legal ability to mitigate threatening drone activity. Shooting down a drone in NJ is illegal and violates federal law - it also can pose safety risks to people and property on the ground.
We will continue to seek answers and provide updates when we receive verified, concrete information.
Thank you, and please feel free to contact us directly with any additional questions or concerns."
Chris Connors
Editor
12-12-2024 1:40pm
From Mendham Borough Mayor Christine S. Glassner -
Dear Mendham Residents,
Please join me and Officer in Charge, Pat McNichol at the Garabrant Center tomorrow evening, Thursday, 12/12 at 6pm for an update on the drone briefing given today by the State to all of the Mayors of New Jersey.
Chris Connors
Editor
12-13-2024 2:42pm
Morris County Commissioners Issue Statement on Drone Activity - 12/13/2024
"The Morris County Board of County Commissioners is calling on the federal government to marshal all federal resources at its disposal, including the military, to end the unauthorized flight of drones over our county and other parts of New Jersey.
We believe this to be a matter of national security, and as such our federal government has a duty to the people of New Jersey and the rest of the nation to identify the source of this incursion, be completely transparent about what is happening, put an end to the drones that have so alarmed our communities and implement the appropriate safeguards to protect our air space and our people, now and in the future.
Morris County and our communities have deployed considerable resources daily since the first drones were spotted.
We continue to support the round-the-clock efforts of our Prosecutor’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office and Department of Law & Public Safety in monitoring the drones and responding to reports from residents as well as local law enforcement. Our county agencies have worked diligently with local police chiefs as well as the State Police, the New Jersey Department of Homeland Security & Preparedness and the FBI in the hopes of bringing calm to this situation and to find answers.
It is amply clear, beyond the fact that FAA regulations prevent our law enforcement agencies from taking any defensive action regarding the errant drones, that only the federal government, with its enormous resources and pre-eminent technology, has the authority to clear our skies of this mounting threat to our public safety. As elected officials, servicemen and women you are failing to abide by the oath you took to protect us from enemies, foreign and domestic. It is your duty to rectify this situation.
We need action now. Our residents deserve nothing less. America deserves nothing less."
Chris Connors
Editor
12-13-2024 2:44pm
Press Release from Randolph Mayor Chris Carey
To the Residents of Randolph Township,
On Wednesday, December 11th, I attended a briefing regarding the recent reports of drones flying over Morris County and other areas of New Jersey. The briefing, held in Ewing and led by Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police, was attended by more than 200 New Jersey Mayors. While I appreciated the opportunity to hear directly from Colonel Callahan, I was disappointed that no new information was shared beyond what is already publicly available.
Here are the key points discussed during the briefing:
- Drones have been reported flying over New Jersey every night since November 18th, except for Thanksgiving Day.
- These drones operate in formation with highly coordinated movements.
- State authorities do not know where the drones are coming from, where they are landing, or their purpose.
- The drones are not believed to be flown by hobbyists. They appear to have advanced technology and are more sophisticated than commercially available drones.
- The Department of Defense and other U.S. agencies have confirmed that the drones are not part of any government programs.
- No businesses or private entities have claimed responsibility for the drones.
- The federal government has stated that there is no imminent or credible threat at this time.
It was also emphasized that only the federal government has jurisdiction over airspace, and the FBI is leading the investigation into these drone sightings. State officials have assured us they are being fully transparent and sharing all the information they have.
In the last week, I have been in communication with Governor Murphy’s office, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill’s office, Senator Bucco, Assemblywoman Dunn, and Sheriff Gannon to express my concerns about the drones reported by Randolph residents. I have urged these leaders to adopt a more aggressive and proactive approach to address this issue. Like many other Mayors who attended the briefing, I am frustrated by the lack of information from federal authorities and join my fellow Mayors in calling on Governor Murphy to take stronger executive action.
I want to assure our residents that I will continue to advocate for more transparency and action from state and federal officials to address this ongoing situation. Randolph will remain vigilant and keep the community informed as more information push our state and federal officials for more information and action.
Sincerely,
Mayor Christine Carey
Randolph Township
Chris Connors
Editor
12-17-2024 12:12pm
Update: The drones have now spread to at least seven states including NJ, NY, PA, CT, VA, OH, MA - an arrest was made in CA over an illegal drone flight but this was not related to the dornes over the northeast. An arrest was also made in MA over illegal drone flights but this was also unrelated to the large and sophisticated drones causing panic in the Northeast.
Chris Connors
Editor
12-18-2024 2:27pm
From Mendham Twp NJ Mayor Sarah Neibart on Dec. 17, 2024 -
-
"Yesterday, the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs coordinated a briefing with New Jersey mayors regarding the drone activity across our state. The federal agencies that participated in the Zoom Call were the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
There are definitely drones in our skies. Since the tip-line was established, the FBI has received over 5,000 reports from residents and law enforcement. The FBI is working quickly to prioritize these reports. This is a multifaceted effort across local, county, state, and federal agencies. Agencies are utilizing flight tracking data overlaid with geospatial modeling to analyze each image and/or video that has been reported. As of now, they have not identified anything as anomalous.
The agencies on the call believe that the drone sightings that have been reported are a combination of commercial drones, hobbyist drones, law enforcement drones, manned fixed-wing aircrafts, helicopters, and even stars. Please note that there are over a million drones that are lawfully registered with the FAA across the United States.
Four days ago, the federal government provided advanced detection systems to the NJ State Police. This system is designed to detect drones that do not emit a radio frequency signal. Since these systems have been operational in NJ, nothing has been reported as unusual and no threat has been identified.
Members of the House Intelligence Committee received a classified drone briefing today from the FBI, Central Intelligence Agency, and National Intelligence Agency.
If you observe suspicious drone activity please continue to report it to NJOHSP’s Counter-Threat Watch Unit at 866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.
Chief Johnson and I continue to receive inquiries about “shooting down” the drones. At this time, state and local authorities do not have the legal ability to mitigate threatening drone activity. Shooting down a drone in NJ is illegal and violates federal law - it also can pose safety risks to people and property on the ground and pilots in the air. Also, please refrain from flashing lasers up to the sky since it could present a dangerous condition for legal, manned flights.
Thank you, and please feel free to contact me directly with any additional questions or concerns."
Sarah Neibart
Mayor, Mendham Township
sneibart@mendhamtownship.org
Chris Connors
Editor
12-19-2024 11:00am
Dec. 19, 2024 Update from the Mayor of Mendham Borough -
"Dear Mendham Borough Residents, Last week we convened a last minute briefing on the drone situation that has been over our skies for over a month. Since that time I have attended a State briefing for Mayors at the State Police HQ in Ewing, and participated on a conference call for New Jersey Mayors arranged by the White House with speakers from various security agencies.You are seeing on the news the same thing that they have told us. To clarify we have been told that we have nothing to worry about, yet they are not certain if these drones could be carrying payload. We have also been told that they are not federal or state government drones, but they believe they are hobbyist, commercial, and police drones.Since we are all watching the skies and taking pictures, we decided to form the Skywatch Task Force and organize our own efforts. Our goal is to get a clear picture or video of what many in our town believe to be drones the size of a vehicle.I have brought together a group of volunteer residents that each offer unique expertise in helping us with this goal.Should we capture a picture of something that is more than a small drone, we will share this with the NJ State Police.We have arranged to gather tonight to do a Skywatch stakeout at Borough Park Field at 5:30pm. If you are able to assist and watch the sky from your home and believe you see a drone, it would be greatly appreciated if you would take a video or pictures."
Click Here for the google form to help us with information so we can map out the drone activity.
"We realize that some of these sightings could be that of planes or a star, which is why we will be assisted by some pilots who will help us determine what we capture. We thank you in advance for your assistance."
Christine Serrano Glassner, Mendham Borough Mayor
