Drone sightings over New York and New Jersey sparked investigations and political reactions, as residents and officials express growing concern over unidentified flying objects appearing in the night sky.
Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan expressed his concerns. According to NBC News, Hogan mentioned seeing "dozens" of drones over his residence in Davidsonville, Maryland. "People are rightly screaming for answers, but they are not getting any," he stated.
Since November 18, 2024, drone sightings have been reported across multiple states, including New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Ohio, and Florida. Residents have witnessed large drones hovering over residential areas and critical infrastructure, prompting lawmakers to demand answers.
In Boston, police arrested two men, Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, for allegedly operating a drone "dangerously close" to Logan International Airport. A third suspect fled the scene and is still at large. The two detained individuals face trespassing charges, with additional charges and fines possible, according to the Associated Press.
Drone activity has forced several airports, including Stewart International Airport and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, to close temporarily due to safety concerns. On December 16, Wright-Patterson closed its airspace for nearly four hours due to drone activity, marking the first time drones have been spotted at one of the largest air bases in the world, as reported by AP.
US authorities, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, have stated that there is no evidence the drones pose a threat to public safety or national security. John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, assured reporters that "there has been no evidence of any of this activity in or near restricted spaces," according to El Tiempo. He added that "many of the unauthorized aircraft appear to be ordinary and lawfully operated."
Despite these assurances, some politicians have expressed skepticism. Congressman Jeff Van Drew claimed that the drones might be launched from an Iranian "mothership" allegedly spotted off the New Jersey coast. "I've learned, for real, that there is circumstantial evidence that there's an Iranian mothership off the east coast of the United States, and that's launching these drone incursions," he stated, as reported by Reuters.
The Pentagon has denied Van Drew's claims. "There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States," officials stated, according to NBC News.
Former President Donald Trump has also weighed in on the issue. In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: "Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government's knowledge? I don't think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT."
Residents have taken to social media to share their experiences. George Gary, a New Jersey resident, reported seeing "multiple drones" in the sky while sitting in his car in Moorestown. "I'm honestly not sure what's behind them," he told CBS News, speculating that it could be connected to government activity. "I'm really curious to find out," he added.
Connecticut residents in Fairfield, Enfield, Stamford, and East Windsor reported drone activity in their neighborhoods. Connecticut State Police announced the deployment of a drone detection system to assist in investigating unauthorized drone sightings over Fairfield County, according to The Independent.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro stated that he has ordered the state police to further investigate the sightings. He said state police would fly helicopters to try and determine where the drones are coming from and what their purpose is, as reported by The Independent.
Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, addressed the concerns, saying that "there's no question that people are seeing drones," according to USA Today. "I want to assure the American public that we, in the federal government, have deployed additional resources, personnel, technology, to assist... in addressing the drone sightings," he added.
Some experts suggest that many of the sightings could be misidentified manned aircraft or other objects.
Despite official statements, conspiracy theories continue to circulate. Some residents and social media users have threatened to shoot at the drones if they veer too close to their homes, although this is illegal and could cause serious harm.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged residents to "calm down" regarding the drone sightings while emphasizing that the public deserves transparency and answers, reported The Washington Post. "We have no idea where these drones come from, who owns them," he said.
Lawmakers, including New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, have called for more transparency and official briefings. "There is a growing sense of uncertainty and urgency across the state," Booker said, as reported by CBS News. "As such, I urge you to share any relevant information about these drone sightings with the public."
Residents remain unconvinced by official explanations. "The moment the federal agencies were like, 'There's nothing to worry about,' I was like, 'Oh, we should be worried,'" Kip, a 46-year-old New Jersey resident, told The Washington Post. He and his friends saw mysterious lights in the sky the Friday after Thanksgiving, which they found "mesmerizing."
As investigations continue, officials urge the public to remain calm and report any sightings to local authorities. The Federal Aviation Administration stated that the growing use of drones by the public is a reason why more people are noticing them in the sky, according to NBC News.
Bethenny Frankel, former star of "The Real Housewives of New York City," took to TikTok to share her apprehensions about the situation. "I know this guy whose father worked with the Pentagon and NASA and, like, secret projects. He has been messaging me that he will never forgive himself if he doesn't tell the people that he knows that for a month, he's been watching this situation, and now, several days ago, before it became a discussion in the mainstream media, that these drones are ours and that they could very possibly be sniffing out something very dangerous," she stated, according to the New York Post.
Frankel suggested that the drones might be searching for "some missing, dangerous 'W' from the war," seemingly alluding to weapons of some sort. She also claimed that "areas that coincide with where the drones have been seen have spiked in radiation," the New York Post reported. "Something is wrong because otherwise they would eliminate them. And everyone's being very cagey," she added.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.