Drone mystery befuddles New Jersey officials, frustrates residents

The chief of police in Harwich, Massachusetts said that a resident called local authorities after spotting 10-15 drones hovering above her house.

According to a release from Harwich Chief of Police Kevin Considine, a resident called police to report "unknown drone activity over her house" on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 9 p.m.

"The resident could not hear the drones but stated they were very bright, and she observed them for over an hour," Considine said.

The local's report was corroborated by a Harwich officer who spotted similar drone activity while on patrol.

"We have forwarded all the information we have received to the Boston FBI and the Massachusetts State Police," he said. "We will continue to work with our state and federal partners."

The sighting in Massachusetts adds the Bay State to a growing list of states that are experiencing mysterious drones in the night sky.

"These drones are similar to the ones reported over the last couple of weeks over New Jersey, New York and most recently over Connecticut," he said.

A Lockheed C-5B Galaxy of the US Air Force (USAF) stands on the tarmac at Ramstein Air Base. Photo: Silas Stein/dpa (Photo by Silas Stein/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Drones were spotted flying over a major U.S. Air Force base in Germany earlier this month, according to media reports.

The aircraft flew over a U.S. air base at Ramstein, Reuters reported.

A security source told Reuters that German authorities have not traced the operators of the drones, but ruled out that they were operated by amateurs.

An Air Force spokesperson told the news outlet that there were “no impacts to base residents, facilities, or assets.”

“In concert with host nation authorities, we continue to monitor the airspace to ensure safety and security of the community,” the spokesperson said.

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Air Force. 

The sightings were flagged by German officials over the base on Dec. 3 and 4.

U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean, R-N.J., said Garden State residents are “at our wits end” as mysterious drone sightings across the state continue to raise more questions than answers.

If the federal government can't provide clarity on the sightings, they should “remove one from sky for examination,” Kean wrote on X.

“Either option would lead us to an answer- and the public is rightfully demanding closure here,” he said.

President Biden and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy need to step up, said Kean, saying “nothing about what is occurring is acceptable."

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby maintained that the government still lacks definitive answers regarding the nature of reported drone sightings as public frustration intensifies.

"Many of the corroborated sightings have turned out to be piloted aircraft. I didn't say all of them, and what I said was those are the ones we were able to corroborate," Kirby said on "The Story." "There certainly is ones that we have not been able to, and we don't know the answer to it, and I strongly recommend that for folks that are seeing these things and documenting them to share that as they can with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI."

Kirby addressed the possibility that the reported drone sightings could be linked to a private company, saying that they "could very well be" commercially developed drones of some kind. 

"Why don't we know? I wish I could tell you exactly why we don't have an answer for you here in the afternoon on the 13th of December," Kirby said. "But I can tell you that we are working on it very, very hard to know, because we want to answer those questions the same as those folks in New Jersey want answers to them."

Kirby disclosed that there was an inter-agency conversation Friday morning about the topic. 

"We have now decided to employ some additional technology to New Jersey and some additional personnel to try to get a better sense of what these things are," he said. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Joshua Comins.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas speaks at the daily press briefing at the White House on July 15 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Friday said the government doesn't have the authority to shoot down drones and believes reports of some sightings are cases of mistaken identity.

Mayorkas appeared on CNN when he was asked about why the federal government doesn't take down one of the many drones that have been spotted across multiple states in recent weeks.

“Our authorities are very limited,” Mayorkas told CNN host Wolf Blitzer, citing missions involving unmanned aircraft conducted by various federal agencies. "We have various authorities that are discreet to their particular missions. We can't just shoot a drone out of the sky."

Mayorkas said officials believe reported drone sightings are “cases of mistaken identity” where drones are actually small aircraft “where people are misidentifying them," noting that some can be purchased at "convenience stores."

“We know of no threat or nefarious activity,” he said.

Mayorkas noted that officials have asked Congress to expand the scope of authority to empower local and state officials to counter drone activity.

“Those authorities need to be expanded,” he said.

Earlier in the evening, President-elect Trump called for the Biden administration to start providing answers about the drones or shoot them down.

Mystery drones spotted in the northeast.

An uptick in alleged drone sightings along the East Coast touched off a flurry of panicked calls for investigation on Friday from residents and state lawmakers, even as public officials stress the aircraft in question are, in fact, being flown lawfully, and a retired port authority aviation expert tells Fox News Digital that fears are overblown.

The drone complaints began pouring in last month in New Jersey, where witnesses and residents first began reporting drone sightings off of coastal areas, including off of Cape May, a scenic town located outside of Atlantic City.

Retired Port Authority Police Detective Lt. John Ryan told Fox News Digital in an interview Friday that the uptick in activity is likely due to two things.

The first, he said, is that drones are a fast-evolving technology that has seen a boom in both recreational and commercial use in the U.S. in the last 10 years. Federal data on drone registration reflects this sharp uptick in use, most if not all of which is legal.

Federal data on drone registration reflects this sharp uptick in use: As of October of this year, there were more than 790,000 drones registered with the Federal Aviation Association (FAA), and nearly 400,000 registered commercial drones. 

That's "just to give you an idea" of the magnitude of the number of legal drones in the U.S., said Ryan, whose extensive police career included serving for a decade as the emergency service special operations commander at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, and then later, the chief officer of the Port Authority, whose role includes oversight of all transportation facilities, including Kennedy, LaGuardia and all other airports and ports in the area.

This is an excerpt from an article by Breanne Deppisch.

Former President Donald Trump speaks as he arrives at Manhattan criminal court with his legal team ahead of the start of jury selection in New York, Monday, April 15, 2024. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool)

President-elect Trump chimed in on the numerous drone sightings happening across several states in recent weeks.

“Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country,” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don (sic) think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shot (sic) them down!!! DJT”

The sightings have raised more questions than answers from government officials, as well as national security and public safety concerns.

Fox News Digital has reached out to Trump's representatives.

The New York State Police on Friday said it has received “numerous” reports of drone sightings over the past 24 hours.

The agency said it was investigating each report and was sharing information with federal and local law enforcement.

“We have no evidence at this point that any of the reported sightings post a security threat,” a state police statement said.

In Yonkers, north of New York City, Mayor Mike Spano said his office fielded calls from residents about drone sightings in the area. The city has been in touch with Gov. Kathy Hochul's office, he said.

“The @FBI and @DHSgov have also been notified. We have been assured there is no threat to public safety,” Spano wrote on X. “We will continue to monitor the situation and we will share more when we know more.”

Elon Musk arrives on Capitol Hill on December 05, 2024 in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Elon Musk jokingly said he believes the recent series of mysterious drone sightings are the work of aliens working on behalf of Iran.

Fox News reporter Bill Melugin asked Musk over X about his thoughts on the sightings that have perplexed authorities in several states.

“@elonmusk any thoughts on the mass drone sightings off the east coast?” Melugin asked.

“Alien spaceships controlled by Iran obv,” Musk replied.

Mysterious drones spotted across the United States.

More drone sightings were reported in Pennsylvania on Thursday.

The Monroe County Office of Emergency Management said it was aware of the sightings.

“Please report any drone sightings in Monroe County, PA, by calling 911,” the agency said in a Facebook post. “Report the size, shape and color or any lights visible on the drones and the location of the drone sightings.”

Multiple reports of the sightings were also being called into authorities in Lehigh and Northampton counties, according to emergency radio dispatches, The Morning Call reported.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Nathan Branosky told the newspaper that authorities received four calls in the southeast area of the state from people reporting seeing drones in the sky. None indicated any immediate threat to the public, he said.

“We’re in touch with our local and federal partners, and will continue to monitor the situation,” Branosky said.

Authorities searched Friday for a drone after a reported crash in New Jersey. (Fox 5 New York)

No drones were found amid reports that one crashed into power lines in New Jersey before crashing in a field, police said.

The Hillsborough Police Department responded Thursday night to reports that a drone crashed into a field. A caller said they saw drones in the sky, with one striking high-tension power lines before crash-landing.

Multiple agencies searched the area from the air and on foot and didn't find any drones, police said.

On Friday morning, authorities used drones to get an aerial view of the area but nothing was found.

A woman who captured what appeared to be multiple drones in the nighttime sky above Connecticut on Thursday had just posted an article on the mysterious drone activity occurring across the northeast before spotting the aircraft.

Lucy Biggers, who works as a social media editor for The Free Press, posted several videos on X showing drone activity in Fairfield after departing a train station. On Friday morning, Biggers said she began questioning what she saw.

“In the light of day, I began questioning myself,” she told Martha MacCallum on “The Story.” “Am I crazy or were those actually planes?”

Biggers said she had been on FlightRadar24, a website that tracks flights around the world in real time, all morning. She said she had tracked flights around the Connecticut area for the 10-minute period during which she filmed the drones.

“From 6:51 p.m., when I got off the train, to 7:04 p.m. when I started filming. I didn't find anything to corroborate that these were planes,” Biggers said.

“They didn't look or sound or act like planes. They kind of put your spidey senses up,” she added.

Biggers noted that the aircraft looked normal and that no one else noticed them in the sky.

“If you weren't looking for it, you wouldn't notice it,” she said. “They look kind of normal. They're blinking, they're a certain size.”

Multiple drones are seen over Bernardsville, N.J., Dec. 5, 2024 (Brian Glenn/TMX via AP)

A drone crashed into the backyard of a New Jersey home Thursday night as mysterious sightings of unmanned aircraft continue to perplex authorities.

The drone fell into a residential area of Pequannock Township, the Pequannock Police Department said.

Officials determined the aircraft to be a “hobby or toy type drone,” not a large commercial or military-grade drone, police said.

The mayor of Pequannock, Ryan Herd, went to the scene to survey the crash scene for himself, the New York Post reported.

He told the newspaper that was concerned that “nobody knows whose drones are flying over us and what they’re flying over us for and where they’re taking off and landing.”

“Drones are flying over our houses, which is our private property. My family is here,” he added. 

Phil Murphy, governor of New Jersey, during an interview in New York, US, on Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Murphy said that while he's committed to trying to block New York City's congestion pricing plan, he's open to negotiating a deal that would allocate a portion of the revenue to his state. (Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is asking President Biden to direct more federal resources to get to the bottom of the numerous drone sightings across the Garden State in recent weeks.

In a Wednesday letter to Biden, Murphy thanked the president for addressing the issue that began on Nov. 18 with sightings of drones in parts of the state.

“It has become apparent that more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity," Murphy wrote. ”The continued reporting of UAS (unmanned aircraft systems) activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms."

Murphy noted the federal law limits the ability of state and local law enforcement to counter drones.

In a separate letter to congressional leaders, Murphy asked lawmakers to pass legislation to empower local authorities to use advanced detection and mitigation technology to deal with drone activity.

“The emerging threat from UAS flights, coupled with the inability of state and local law enforcement to engage meaningfully with them, is a cause for concern,” Murphy wrote. 

A social media user said she filmed several drones hoovering over Fairfield, Connecticut on Thursday night. (Lucy Biggers)

The Connecticut State Police are investigating drone sightings spotted across the state in recent days.

The state’s emergency services unit has deployed a drone detection system in response, the state police told Fox News Digital.

“We are aware of suspicious drone activity occurring in various areas of the state. The Emergency Services Unit has deployed a drone detection system to assist with these investigations, which is presently set up in the Groton/New London area,” a police statement said.

Authorities have been monitoring all drone flights in the area and “will continue to report all suspicious flights to our both Federal and local partners in law enforcement,” police said.

There is no known threat to the public at this time, authorities said.

On Thursday, videos posted online showed what appeared to be multiple drones hovering over Fairfield. On Friday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., wrote the Federal Aviation Administration, the FBI, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security demanding a briefing on the drone sightings, WTNH-TV reported.

“The proliferation of reported drone activities in this region raises significant safety and security concerns for both commercial and private aviation as well as national security concerns,” he reportedly wrote. “Incidents involving drones interfering with aircraft operations have increased, posing a real and substantial risk to passengers, crews, and others in the vicinity. And, I am particularly concerned about the potential for these unmanned aerial vehicles – many of which are as large as a car— to disrupt air traffic and, more alarmingly, to be used maliciously to threaten national security.”

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said Thursday he is "frustrated" by the government's lack of transparency when it comes to the investigation into the large drones flying over various northeastern states in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., said he is "frustrated" by the government's lack of transparency surrounding the recent drone sightings in his state and surrounding areas in the mid-Atlantic region.

On Capitol Hill on Thursday, the senator said that he has issued a letter asking for more information because Americans should be aware of what is happening in the skies.

"I’ve been a little frustrated," he told reporters. "There hasn't been enough transparency letting people know what's happening. It's allowing a lot of potentially misinformation to spread, or at least fear. We should know what's going on over our skies."

Booker said he has been hearing from his constituents and other elected leaders, all of whom share his concerns about the mysterious drones.

"We have agencies and organizations from the government that should be able to provide a lot more information than the public has," he said, adding that the public should have "good information" on a situation that is "understandably concerning."

The senator also worries that the lack of transparency about the drones could potentially fuel misinformation.

"I've heard a lot of things about them, and again, I want to make sure that we have all the facts," he said.

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul said Empire State residents, too, have seen unidentified drones flying in the skies at night this week.

"At this time, there's no evidence that these drones pose a public safety or national security threat," Hochul posted Friday on X.

She added that the state is coordinating with the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security to protect New Yorkers. 

The source of the drones remains a mystery, and it's not even clear that all of the flying objects are drones and not manned aircraft. Experts note that the navigation lights are a big hint that whoever's flying them isn't trying to keep them hidden.

"Upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully," White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby told reporters Thursday.

Many of the reported sightings, however, involve objects that witnesses say look larger than typical retail drones, like the ones spotted above Island Beach State Park.

An Army spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Picatinny Arsenal had requested and received a temporary flight restriction until Dec. 26 for its airspace as a result of the abundance of reported drone sightings in the area.

The FAA said it is investigating the reported sightings and also issued a temporary flight restriction for the airspace around the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.

"We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate," a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "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."

Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz, Julia Bonavita and Morgan Phillips contributed to this update.

Mayor Michael Melham of Belleville said the state of New Jersey has issued guidance to local governments on what to do if a drone is downed.

Officials have advised fire departments to immediately call the nearest bomb squad and to wear protective hazmat suits when approaching a drone that has fallen out of the sky.

"They're not quite sure if there's a payload or not," Mayor Melham explained on the "Faulkner Focus."  

The mayor expressed frustration with officials who have downplayed the significance of these drone sightings.

"We're being told that people in New Jersey must e crazy, that they're only seeing small aircraft. That's just not the case," Melham said. "If you're on the ground in New Jersey, my residents are alarmed because they have no idea what's hovering just over their houses." 

Melham said that the reported drones "look like small aircraft" and "don't look like the personal drones we're used to seeing." 

New Jersey residents frustrated with a lack of answers regarding dozens of potential drone sightings in the skies above their homes are threatening to take action on their own if the government doesn't start providing answers.

James Ward, a Jersey Shore realtor, shared video on Facebook that he said showed "SUV-size drones" above Island Beach State Park taken Sunday. It's difficult to judge their size in the clip, which showed a number of lights hovering in the sky.

"Dozens of SUV-size drones in all directions," the caption read. "Emerging at same time and flying over the ocean and then heading in different directions – what do you think?"

"A good shotgun will fix that problem," one commenter replied.

"Why hasn't anyone shot one down to look for a serial number to trace it back to the operator?" another wrote. "I would think that could provide a clue."

"Semi auto 3 inch magnum 00 buck full choke!" yet another replied.

Experts warn that it is typically illegal to shoot down a drone flying over a property. The Federal Aviation Administration told Forbes in 2016 that shooting down a drone is illegal under the same federal law prohibiting the sabotage of any other aircraft.

FAA regulations also prohibit the unsafe or unauthorized operation of an aircraft — manned or not.

Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz and Julia Bonavita contributed to this update.

A New Jersey lawmaker says he "can't believe" how the government is wording its investigation into recent drone sightings across northeast America.

State Assemblyman Paul Kanitra joined "Fox News @ Night" on Thursday to discuss the bipartisan outrage at how the government is handling the drone sightings.

"We're a polarized society, but I can tell you when we were in ‘The Rock,’ our security building in New Jersey, and we had a hundred state legislators from across the political spectrum – upper house, lower house – everyone was equally angry at this situation," Kanitra said.

The first drone sighting took place in New Jersey on Nov. 18, the Federal Aviation Administration said earlier this month, prompting the agency to issue two temporary flight restrictions.

Kanitra said he learned during an intelligence briefing for state legislators on Wednesday that there have been confirmed drone sightings "every night since then."

In a Facebook post, Kanitra said he implored the Department of Homeland Security during that briefing to "take swift and decisive action" against the drones, describing the situation as "infuriating."

On Thursday, the White House said an investigation is in its beginning stages, but nothing, thus far, has revealed malicious or criminal intent, or a national security threat.

Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this update.

Maryland Governor Larry Hogan attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Perdue Henson Junior Achievement Center Friday, Aug. 19, 2022, in Salisbury, Maryland. Fall 2023 is the estimated opening for the center. Junior Achievement Of The Eastern Shore Ground Breaking Ceremony. (Lauren Roberts/Salisbury Daily Times / USA TODAY NETWORK)

Former Republican Gov. Larry Hogan of Maryland said Friday that he personally witnessed "dozens of large drones" flying above his home in Davidsonville, Maryland, on Thursday evening.

"Last night, beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital). I observed the activity for approximately 45 minutes," Hogan posted on X.

The former governor said he does not know if these drone sightings are evidence of a threat to public safety or national security. But he called out the federal government for a "complete lack of transparency" in the face of Americans' concerns.

"The government has the ability to track these from their point of origin but has mounted a negligent response. People are rightfully clamoring for answers, but aren’t getting any," Hogan said. 

"We are being told that neither the White House, the military, the FBI, or Homeland Security have any idea what they are, where they came from, or who has launched or is controlling them–and that they pose no threat.

"That response is entirely unacceptable. I join with the growing bipartisan chorus of leaders demanding that the federal government immediately address this issue. The American people deserve answers and action now." 

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said the mysterious drones spotted in New Jersey over the past few weeks, and most recently in Connecticut, should be "shot down, if necessary." (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

A U.S. Senator from Connecticut said the mysterious drones spotted recently flying over states in the mid-Atlantic region should be "shot down, if necessary."

In an interview on Capitol Hill Thursday, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., said intelligence analysis is needed on the drones and the U.S. must act "more aggressively" against the sightings that have been reported.

"We should be doing some very smart intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they're flying over airports or military bases," the senator said. "They should be shot down, if necessary, because they're flying over sensitive areas."

Blumenthal also said the lack of information on the drones, who they belong to and where they have come from is "absolutely unacceptable."

His comments come as many large drones have been reported flying over New Jersey in the past few weeks. Drones were also allegedly spotted in Blumenthal's state for the first time on Thursday.

Fox News Digital's Elizabeth Pritchett contributed to this update.

Several drones were reportedly spotted in the skies above a Connecticut suburb Thursday night, adding to recent sightings that have perplexed residents and raised questions about possible national security and public safety concerns. 

A social media user on X posted videos of possible drones in Fairfield, 55 miles northeast of New York City. 

Drones hovering over New Jersey and near Staten Island, New York, in recent weeks have raised concerns due to a lack of clarity over their origin. 

One X user filmed what she said were at least five drones in the sky over the Fairfield, Connecticut, train station. 

"They all just went by each other," she's heard saying off camera. "They're at different levels. My husband has a drone. They don't fly this far and this quiet."

At one point, she said the aircraft could be a "hobbyist drone."

Another social media user said she noticed the drones "between 5:30-6:00. Crazy, definitely not planes." Other footage posted online showed multiple possible drones hovering near LaGuardia Airport in New York City, according to social media posts. 

Fox News Digital has reached out to the Federal Aviation Administration. 

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., fired back after high-ranking officials dismissed claims he gathered from "very qualified" and "reliable" sources linking mystery drones flying over New Jersey airspace to an Iranian "mothership" parked off the U.S. East Coast.

"They've been incredibly stupid and incredibly weak with this," Van Drew said Thursday on "America's Newsroom." 

"We know they're not backyard drones that some hobbyist is using because they're much more sophisticated than that. We know that they're not a commercial company within the United States because we don't even have this level of sophistication yet. We are a full decade behind where China is with drones. The government claims it's not them. They say it's not them, so who is it?"

He continued, "I have credible individuals who have high security ratings, and they came to me and again, these are dependable, credible individuals that have security clearance that felt that they wanted to clear the air. They were, in essence, whistleblowers, and they believe there's a real possibility it could be Iran, that there could be a ship not right on the coast of New Jersey. These drones, as cited by the Coast Guard, are coming in and out of the ocean. They're going to the ocean. They're not pontoons. They're not landing on the water. They're landing on something. We're not being told the truth. They are dealing with the American public like we're stupid."

Fox News Digital's Taylor Penley contributed to this update.

House Speaker Mike Johnson told Fox News he was getting a "classified briefing" Thursday in Washington on the mysterious drones that are being spotted flying across New Jersey. 

The Louisiana Republican, speaking to Fox News Senior Congressional Correspondent Chad Pergram, called the situation a "quandary." 

"I'm going to try to go get a classified briefing to see what we know, but the hearings have not yielded much yet," Johnson said. 

"It's a specific briefing today on that subject?" Pergram then asked. 

 So I'm anxious to find out," Johnson responded. 

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently told WNYC that his state government is running down every theory of what the source of the drones could be.  

"I'm relying overwhelmingly on the experts in the federal government who do this for a living. There's no evidence that anything is armed," he said. "There's some theories out there. Again, we take nothing off the table. Even if somebody says something crazy with absolutely no evidence. We've been running everything down."  

Fox News Digital's Greg Norman contributed to this update.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says the federal government has the authority to shoot down the mysterious drones spotted flying over his state and that he "wouldn’t be opposed" to them playing a "more robust role" in the matter.

Murphy made the remark during an interview with WNYC as the public and lawmakers remain baffled over the source of the large drones. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., told Fox News this week that a Coast Guard commander said "one of their 47-foot vessels, boats, was trailed very closely by more than a dozen of these drones." 

When the interviewer suggested whether one of the drones could be shot down so officials could get a closer look, Murphy said: "The feds have that authority, and I'd like to see them play a more robust role. I wouldn't be opposed to that. Let me put it that way." 

"I want folks out there to know -- listen, you're frustrated. So are we. But... we're going to stay at it, I promise you, this is our top priority. But based on everything we know, we don't see any evidence of a risk to public safety. And clearly, and that's largely based on the feds input. If that changes, we will shout it from the mountaintop," Murphy also said. 

The Democrat said his state government is running down every theory of what the source of the drones could be. 

"I'm relying overwhelmingly on the experts in the federal government who do this for a living. There's no evidence that anything is armed," he said. "There's some theories out there. Again, we take nothing off the table. Even if somebody says something crazy with absolutely no evidence. We've been running everything down." 

Local officials have not yet asked U.S. Northern Command to intervene amid reports of mysterious drones witnessed flying over New Jersey, according to a military spokesperson.

The large drone sightings have caused concern and confusion as dozens have been reported and officials are at a loss to explain where they come from. Northern Command confirmed some of the drones have been sighted near U.S. military installations.

"We are aware and monitoring the reports of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations in New Jersey to include Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle, and we refer you to those installations for information on any efforts they are may be conducting to ensure the safety and security of their personnel and operations," a U.S. Northern Command spokesperson told Fox News Digital.

The spokesperson added that the FBI and local law enforcement are currently investigating the sightings.

"U.S. Northern Command conducted a deliberate analysis of the events, in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners, and at this time we have not been requested to assist with these events," the spokesperson said.

New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew said Wednesday that "very qualified" and "reliable" sources believe the mystery drones populating the Garden State's skies are originating from an Iranian "mothership" parked off the U.S. East Coast, a claim the Pentagon subsequently denied.

"Here is the real deal," the GOP lawmaker told Fox News' Harris Faulkner. 

"I'm on the Transportation Committee, on the Aviation Subcommittee, and I've gotten to know people. And from very high sources, very qualified sources, very responsible sources. I'm going to tell you… Iran launched a mothership probably about a month ago that contains these drones. That mothership is off the east coast of the United States of America."

Van Drew did not provide the names of sources responsible for the information, citing confidentiality.

"You know that Iran made a deal with China to purchase drones, motherships and technology in order to go forward…" he added later.

"…These drones should be shot down. Whether it was some crazy hobbyist that we can't imagine, or whether it is Iran – and I think it very possibly could be – they should be shot down. We are not getting the full deal and the military is on alert with this."

Fox News chief national security correspondent Jennifer Griffin asked Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh during a briefing today about Van Drew's allegations, and she said there was no truth to them.

"There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called ‘mothership’ launching drones toward the United States," Singh said.

Fox News Digital's Taylor Penley contributed to this update.

New Jersey drone sighting map. (Fox & Friends/Screengrab)

The base commander of a New Jersey military research center said the mysterious drones flying over the area are not theirs, but confirmed sightings to a local media outlet.

"While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remain unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activities," Lt. Col. Craig Bonham II said in a news release obtained by the Morristown Daily Record. 

The local media outlet reported that Picatinny has recorded 11 confirmed sightings overhead since Nov. 13. Another seven reports could either not be confirmed or turned out to be airplanes, Bonham said. 

Reports of large drones flying over different parts of the Garden State, including President-elect Trump’s Bedminster golf course and near military research sites, have been on the rise in recent weeks. 

The Federal Aviation Administration first received reports of drone activity Nov. 18 in Morris County, which is nearly 2 miles north of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Somerset County. The drones have been seen nightly in some areas, and are occasionally reported traveling in groups, Patch reported. 

Fox News Digital's Pilar Arias contributed to this update.

A New Jersey state senator called for a limited state of emergency Tuesday as the mystery surrounding large drones flying over the Garden State continues to deepen.

"The State of New Jersey should issue a limited state of emergency banning all drones until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings," Republican New Jersey state Sen. Jon Bramnick said in a press release.

Reports of large drones flying over President-elect Trump’s Bedminster golf course and near military research sites in New Jersey have been on the rise in recent weeks. On Monday, Gov. Phil Murphy announced there were dozens of reports of drones on Sunday alone.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Tuesday that drones flying over New Jersey were not foreign, adding that President Biden has been made aware of the situation, and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and FBI are investigating.

"So, we are certainly aware. The president is aware, so we are closely tracking the activity and coordinating closely with relevant agencies, including DHS and FBI, to continue to investigate these incidents," Jean-Pierre said before adding she did not have anything else to share. "Obviously, this is something the DHS and FBI are tracking very, very closely."

When pressed if the federal government had ruled out that the drones are being controlled by foreign entities, Jean-Pierre promptly responded, "Yeah."

This is an excerpt from an article by Greg Wehner.

Drone expert Dr. William Austin suggested that New Jersey residents may be flying their own drones to look for other drones, which has led to mass reports of unidentified aerial aircraft flying at night.

In an interview on "Fox & Friends," Austin showed different types of drones currently available on the market – nearly all manufactured in China – and walked host Brian Kilmeade through their various applications.

"I'm not worried about the large drones because we would be able to detect most of those through through systems and sensors that they have on them," Austin said. 

He said that often what people believe to be SUV-sized drones flying at night are actually small drones that may look larger due to an optical illusion, or high-altitude airplanes. 

"My guess is what people are probably seeing are mostly aircraft and these small drones we have behind us," Austin said. "When you look at the sky, it can become very deceiving as things passed each other for anyone, including us who are professional aviators."

He added that most people own DJI Mavic model drones, the most common on the marketplace, and that what New Jersey residents could be seeing are their neighbors "putting out drones, looking for other drones." 

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers after a game against the Miami Dolphins at Hard Rock Stadium.

New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers lives in New Jersey and has noticed the drones recently flying throughout the state. 

"Do you know what’s been going on in Jersey lately? And I’m not talking about the football, not talking about the football. There’s been some crazy things going on. There is some drones in the sky," Rodgers said during a recent appearance on "The Pat McAfee Show."

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who has held briefings with Homeland Security, the FBI, Secret Service and state police officials, told Fox News Monday he’s seen no evidence of concern for public safety. 

A video was shown of a drone in Bedminster, New Jersey, prompting Rodgers to ask, "What the hell is that?"

Rodgers noted the drone in the video is "large" and that he doesn’t know what is going on with the drones.

"They need to tell us what’s going on. It's military or not military, UAP or whatever the hell it is. But there’s people in Jersey, it’s people interested on what the hell is going on with these drones."

"There is other videos that I’ve seen, and I’ve talked to some friends of mine that are police officers — shoutout Mario. There’s some interesting things going on. Interesting things with the drones. I don’t know what’s going on with them. Maybe it’s just some kids messing around, maybe not though," Rodgers said. 

The Jets quarterback just wants answers about what the drones are being used for.

This is an excerpt from an article by Ryan Canfield.

A top FBI leader revealed the agency knows concerningly little about the mysterious drones that have been seen hovering over New Jersey. 

Asked if Americans are "at risk," FBI Assistant Director of the Critical Incident Response Group Robert Wheeler told Congress: "There is nothing that is known that would lead me to say that, but we just don't know. And that's the concerning part."

Dozens of drones have been spotted flying near sensitive sites like a military research facility in recent weeks.

The FBI has been investigating the incidents and has called on the public for additional information. 

According to Gov. Phil Murphy, there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday alone, mostly in Hunterdon County. 

The FBI assistant director’s comments came during a joint hearing of two Homeland Security subcommittees on unmanned aerial systems. 

"We do not attribute that to an individual or a group yet. we're investigating, but I don't have an answer of who's responsible for that of, one or more people that are responsible for those, drone flights," said Wheeler. 

"That’s crazy, that’s madness that we don’t know what these drones are," said Rep. Anthony Gonzales, R-Texas. 

"There are a lot of Americans that are very frustrated right now that are essentially questioning where my taxpayer dollars going," he added,asking Wheeler how much of the FBI budget goes toward counter-drone efforts. 

About $500,000, Wheeler replied, goes to counter-drone technology and its deployment within the FBI. 

"No wonder we don't know what the hell's going on!" the congressman replied. 

A top border official also revealed in the hearing that during a recent six-week period, Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) sensors recorded 6,900 drone flights within close proximity to U.S. borders, potentially threatening the lives of CBP officers and some of which had been carrying drugs. 

CBP could not engage with some 95 percent of those drones because they did not breach U.S. airspace but hovered just near the border. 

Keith Jones, CBP head of Air and Marine Operations, revealed that no money had been allocated to CBP for counter-drone procedures. 

This is an excerpt from an article by Morgan Phillips.

New Jersey authorities have insisted that sightings of SUV-size drones for the past several weeks do not present a threat to public safety, but military analysts say the lack of clear answers from the government points to a larger problem. 

These large drones have been spotted over the skies of the Garden State with smaller, more rapidly maneuverable drones, resembling what’s referred to as "drone motherships" that have been deployed in Ukraine, Russia and China, Fox News contributor Brett Velicovich said. The motherships launch smaller drones, which do not have the necessary range-antennas to carry them a further distance. That suggests, according to Velicovich, that a foreign adversary could be at play in New Jersey. 

The Jersey sightings resemble SPV drones, which Ukraine uses to conduct about 70 to 80% of the strikes on the front lines, Velicovich said. RPG weapons, such as mortars or grenades, are attached to the fast-moving SPV drones. 

"It doesn't matter if the drone doesn't have a bomb on it to explode. The damage that these things can cause from a collection standpoint can set countries back years," Velicovich, a former special operations intel analyst and drone expert, told Fox News Digital. He explained that drones can be outfitted with various sensors to detect cellphone coverage, pick up IP addresses and different frequencies in the air and nuclear radiation. 

"All the drones have to do is fly over that sensitive site, and they could be collecting intelligence that can go back to a foreign adversary immediately," Velicovich said. "I mean, it's getting sent over satellite communications. It's getting passed back very quickly. And the damage, frankly, is already done." 

This is an excerpt from an article by Danielle Wallace.

U.S. lawmakers from New Jersey joined in many residents’ frustrations over dozens of reports of drones being flown near sensitive sites like a military research facility in recent weeks, and they are now calling on federal agencies to immediately help investigate and address the escalating issue.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., joined law enforcement leaders in his district on Monday on Long Beach Island, having been one of the key figures leading efforts to investigate the source and possible risks associated with the drone activity.

"I have been speaking with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, and national security officials located in the area to discuss the widespread reports of unidentified drone activity across my central New Jersey congressional district and across our state," Smith said in a statement. "Understandably, New Jersey residents are very alarmed at this significant and reoccurring phenomenon – and the tepid response from our state and federal agencies so far is totally unacceptable. As we saw with the Chinese spy balloon last year, our fiercest adversaries will stop at nothing to surveil our homeland and threaten our national security."

The FBI has been investigating reports of several mysterious nighttime drone flights that started occurring last month in central New Jersey, and the agency has since called on the public for help. Since making the call, residents have reported seeing drones in other areas of the state.

According to Gov. Phil Murphy, there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday alone, mostly in Hunterdon County. The Democrat governor said his numbers included possible sightings and potentially the same drone being reported more than once.

"This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated," Murphy said.

Who is piloting the drones and why are both mysteries, though federal and state officials continue to say there is no known risk or threat to public safety.

This is an excerpt from an article by Greg Wehner.

As mysterious aircraft are spotted in New Jersey skies, James and Daria Totten, owners of the Totten Family Farm in Long Valley, spoke to Fox News Digital about witnessing the peculiar phenomena.

They have recorded footage of the strange objects near their 80-acre-farm.

"Drones? This video was taken in Chester tonight near our farm. WTF!" a post on the farm's Instagram page reads.

James, who said he is a private pilot but hasn't flown in years, told Fox News Digital that the aircraft were flying fairly quickly. He described the sound as "almost silent" but also said there was also a large object that sounded like a plane.

"You know, could it be a plane? Maybe," Daria said. "I don't think so. I've never seen … something fly so low," she noted. "There were like three of them within 10 minutes" over their property.

"But there's definitely something going on. There's definitely other things other than airplanes out there," she said. "We need to know."

The sightings that people have been reporting in New Jersey's skies have even attracted the attention of the FBI.

"The FBI Newark, NJ State Police, and NJ Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River," a Dec. 3 FBI statement noted.

This is an excerpt from an article by Alex Nitzberg and Ashley Papa.

New Jersey mayors are demanding answers for their constituents after a flurry of mysterious drones have reappeared over roughly a dozen counties night after night, inviting questions about their purpose and origins.

Washington Township Mayor Matthew Murello and Mine Hill Township Mayor Sam Morris are among the officials who penned a letter to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, urging his office to "take immediate action" and "provide transparency" while addressing these concerns.

They say the ongoing mystery has created fear and frustration among their communities.

"The governor was very nice in calling me back yesterday and basically said the same thing we've known all along. There doesn't appear to be any safety concerns, but that there's really no information as to who's piloting these drones, what they're doing, where they're going or where they're coming from, and that's really the main concern we have as mayors for our constituents," Murello said Monday on "Fox & Friends."

Morris also spoke with Gov. Murphy on Sunday and received the same information.

"They're [the governor's office is] very frustrated and frustrated with the feds. I said to him, ‘Governor, these things have a limited power range and life, and they need to be followed, so I kind of said to him… this idea that I came up with, which is ‘follow a drone home’ program. Somebody get a drone up there, somebody get a helicopter up there. They have to come back to Earth, and then we're going to know who's driving them. If they don't know, they need to know. That's what our residents are demanding," he said.

"I think that's why with Matt and the other mayors, we are so frustrated because we're getting a lot of heat for something that we have zero control or say over."

He told Fox News some drones reportedly are the size of small cars and could hurt or kill someone if they lose power and fall.

This is an excerpt from an article by Taylor Penley.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he spoke with state and federal officials about unusual drone activity in parts of the region, including the vicinity of President-elect Trump's Bedminster golf club, but stressed there was no threat to public safety. 

In a Dec. 5 post on X, Murphy said he convened a briefing with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, senior officials from DHS, the state police and state Homeland Security and Preparedness, as well as New Jersey's congressional delegation. 

"We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter," he wrote. "There is no known threat to the public at this time."

In recent weeks, drones were spotted flying in Somerset and Morris counties. In a video from Nov. 25, a Morris County resident named Mike Walsh spotted drones flying over Black River Middle School in Chester. The Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster is located in Somerset County.

Other drone sightings in the Garden State occurred in Bernardsville, Mendham and Parsippany. In response to unusual drone sightings above the northern and central New Jersey skies on Nov. 18, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday confirmed it had issued two temporary flight restrictions. 

In a statement, New Jersey state Sen. Anthony Bucco, a Republican, said some of the drones flew over his home. 

"I have been assured that there is no known imminent threat from these devices," he said. "Our law enforcement community, including the FBI, continues to gather information on the drones and provide information to the public as it becomes available."

Fox News Digital's Louis Casiano contributed to this update.

Trump National Golf Club (Getty Images)

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had issued two flight restrictions following questionable drone activity in the area of President-elect Trump's New Jersey golf club.

On Nov. 18, the FAA first received reports of drone activity within Morris County, the border of which lies about two miles north of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Somerset County.

Upon request from "federal security partners," the agency issued two TFRs, or temporary flight restrictions, and several reports of drone sightings continued into this week in Central Jersey.

One restriction covers an area near Solberg-Hunterdon County Airport that consists of airspace above Trump Bedminster. Flights are also banned over Picatinny Arsenal, a major U.S. Army hub in Dover, N.J., geared toward research and development via its CCDCAC armaments center.

The ban remains in place over Trump Bedminster for the rest of this week and over Picatinny Arsenal until Dec. 26.

"Safely integrating drones into the National Airspace System is a key priority for the FAA," the agency said in a statement. 

"We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate," the agency said, adding drone pilots who endanger aircraft or people can have their certification revoked and/or face $75,000 in fines.

Local media reported law enforcement has also been probing continued drone activity in the area. 

Sightings have also occurred a few miles north of Bedminster in Mendham and Parsippany, where I-80 meets I-287.

Fox News Digital's Charles Creitz contributed to this update.

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby claimed Thursday that many of the purported drone sightings spotted over New Jersey for the past several weeks are actually lawfully operated manned aircraft. 

"We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus," Kirby told reporters at the daily White House press briefing. "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they're working closely with state and local law enforcement to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin." 

"Using very sophisticated electronic detection technologies provided by federal authorities, we have not been able to, and neither have state or local law enforcement authorities, corroborate any of the reported visual sightings," he said. "To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully. The United States Coast Guard is providing support to the state of New Jersey, and has confirmed that there is no evidence of any foreign-based involvement from coastal vessels. And importantly, there are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted airspace."

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Brian Harrell, a former DHS assistant secretary for infrastructure protection under the Trump administration, said Kirby missed a key opportunity to develop trust with the public. 

"The government has a unique opportunity to build trust with the American public here, and they are fumbling the ball," Harrell said. "Yes, additional authorities are needed; however, we have the tools and radar capabilities today to understand the details of these drones. While I don’t think foreign nations are involved, it’s clear to me that the government or contractors are testing capabilities." 

This is an excerpt from an article by Danielle Wallace, Louis Casiano and David Spunt.