USA Today reports “Mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks, leading to an investigation involving multiple police agencies and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Newark.
Images and footage of the drones have circulated online, leading community members to wonder what’s going on and what authorities are doing about it.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office said there is “no known threat to public safety,” the same messaging officials have released over the past few weeks.
Reports of drone sightings have emerged from multiple counties including Morris, Somerset, Warren and Sussex counties, according to NorthJersey.com, part of the USA TODAY Network.
In a joint statement on behalf of the prosecutor’s office and multiple New Jersey police agencies, the office said it realizes members of the public have concerns about the repeated drone sightings. The office is working with local sheriff’s departments, emergency management offices, police departments, the FBI in Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness partners, the statement read.
Here’s what we know so far.
When were the drones first spotted?
The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office first announced the sightings in November. The office said that on Nov. 18, patrolmen from law enforcement saw the drones. At the time, the prosecutor’s office said the agencies would “coordinate, monitor, and investigate the drone activity.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially said it looked into reports and “did not find evidence of drone activity in the area.” Still, the FAA said, the agency shared information about the reports with federal security partners.
Both the FAA and FBI aware of drone activity
Since the drone sightings first began, multiple agencies have joined the investigation, including the FBI in Newark.
The FBI issued a statement Tuesday about the sightings, noting that drones have been reportedly seen flying in several areas along the 70-mile Raritan River. According to witnesses, a cluster of what appeared to be drones, as well as a possible fixed wing aircraft, was flying in the area, the FBI said.
“We have reports from the public and law enforcement dating back several weeks,” the FBI Newark said in a news release obtained by USA TODAY.
The FAA said in a statement to USA TODAY that federal security partners asked the agency to issue flight restrictions. The FAA published two temporary flight restrictions last month, prohibiting drones over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
“We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate,” the FAA said in its statement. “Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines up to $75,000. In addition, we can suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates.”
FBI investigating mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey
Local resident comments on purported drone sighting
Jonelle Ferentinos, who lives near the Boonton Reservoir in Parsippany, told the Morristown Daily Record, part of the USA TODAY Network, that she had seen the drones while she was out walking her dog at night. One night, she spotted five drones. The next night they were back in her neighborhood, she said.
“It was dark, so I really couldn’t see where they were coming from or going to,” she told the Daily Record. “They just seemed to be flying around.”
The FBI asks that anyone who sees the drones call 1-800-225-5324 or submit tips and video footage at www.tips.fbi.gov.”
FBI Investigates Mysterious Drones Over NJ Skies
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