The mysterious flying objects detected in New Jersey and other states are, in some cases, drones and in others, fixed-wing aircraft or stars, the US Department of Defense and other government agencies said on December 16.
“After closely examining technical data and advice from concerned citizens, we assess that sightings to date include a mix of legal commercial drones, hobby drones, and police drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and errant stars. reported as drones,” the Pentagon, the US Department of Homeland Security, the FBI and the Federal Aviation Administration saying in a joint statement on social media platform X.
The FBI has received more than 5,000 reports of drone sightings in recent weeks, the agencies said. The tips have resulted in 100 potential clients. The federal government is helping state and local officials investigate leads and using “advanced detection technology” and “trained visual observers.”
“We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess that activity to date poses a risk to national security or public safety over civil airspace in New Jersey or other northeastern states,” the agencies said.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said Epoch Times earlier this month that there was no evidence to show that the drone sightings posed a threat to national or public security or had a foreign nexus.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, told reporters at a briefing Monday that there were no signs the drones were being controlled by a foreign country.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration, flying drones in the United States is generally legal, as long as they are less than 400 feet.
Sightings of mysterious objects began in November in New Jersey. Since then, drones have been seen in many other states, including New York and Maryland.
The sightings have caused temporary closures at airports and the airspace at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, prompting calls seeking answers.
“When you hear hundreds of reports of drones flying over us, or see activity, and the federal agencies responsible for controlling airspace do not inform the public adequately and quickly, there is a huge information gap left,” said Rep. Josh. Gottheimer (D-N.J.) said in a recent briefing.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul saying on December 15 that federal authorities would send a state-of-the-art drone detection system to his state. The team was also sent to New Jersey.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy told reporters on December 16 that there was “little to no suspicious activity” in the state.
Federal officials said in the new statement that they recognize that people across the country are concerned about increasing reports of flying objects and urged Congress to enact legislation restricting unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. They also highlighted how some of the drones have been seen near military installations and said Pentagon officials are working with law enforcement agencies to respond to those sightings.
The Department of Homeland Security previously said there was an active federal investigation into the drone sightings and that the FBI was leading the investigation. The agency has said people who observe suspicious drone behavior should report information to state authorities.
President-elect Donald Trump told reporters Monday that the government knows what is happening with flying objects and that officials need to be transparent. “They know where it came from and where it went. But for some reason they don’t want to comment and I think it would be better if they said what it is about,” he said.
Trump has also called for the drones to be shot down.
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security of the United States saying over the weekend that federal officials have limited authority to shoot down drones. Mayorkas said Congress could expand that authority and that officials take action when it comes to restricted airspace, referencing a recent incident in which a Chinese national flew a drone near an air base in California.
“When a drone flies over restricted airspace, we act very, very quickly,” Mayorkas said. “And, in fact, when an individual in California flew a drone over restricted airspace, that individual was identified, detained, and is being charged by federal authorities. And that is why we act as quickly as possible when an individual flies a drone over restricted airspace and violates the rules.”
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
