The Irish Star reports “The mystery of New Jersey’s skies buzzing with drones has led to tightened restrictions on the devices. Residents have been inundated with sightings of inexplicable flying objects , prompting a swift government response to alleviate fears, insisting there is no threat to national security.
Despite this, the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has broadened its drone exclusion zone ; initially encompassing 22 districts, it now includes another nine. Although less frequent, current clips still emerge from counties like Somerset, Ocean, and Bergen, perpetuating public fascination—yet the FAA’s motivations for the extended ban remain opaque.
The FAA referred questions to Homeland Security, resulting in a referral loop, while the FBI acknowledged only 100 out of around 5,000 drone reports as “credible.”
Even amid stricter controls and increased oversight, officials stand firm that there’s no national security or safety peril. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby asserted: “We have not identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast.”
Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy reported that his officers used their drone to chase a group of mysterious aircraft “coming off the ocean” after being spotted by a deputy, but the “industrial-grade” drone couldn’t keep up with the faster objects, reports the Express US .
Authorities in Ocean County had sought an emergency declaration back in December to allow for federal assistance in dealing with these drone incidents. This period saw heightened activity, despite stricter drone restrictions.
Congressman Jeff Van Drew told The New York Post that his high-clearance US government sources have confirmed fears that these drones could be foreign surveillance devices. He expressed alarm saying: “Something’s very wrong,” noting the drones’ ability to travel undetected as they are the size of minivans and fly through radar-blind zones.
He added more detail on the unsettling nature of the situation: “We’ve got unidentifiable, sophisticated drones, as big as minivans, carefully navigating airspace that’s not covered by radar, in a very important part of our country, and still, a month later, we somehow don’t know anything. ” Van Drew also criticized the tranquilizing responses from the government, stressing: “We’re being told, ‘Don’t worry, everything’s okay.'”.
Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden raised the alarm over public safety due to a spike in nocturnal drone activity: “Residents are increasingly alarmed by the surge in drone activity after dark, raising concerns about public safety and security.”
He urged immediate action, stating, “We cannot wait any longer. The Governor must act now, and the Air National Guard needs to step in to protect our communities.”