Six Things To Know About The New Jersey Drone Mystery

From November heading into December of 2024, mysterious “car-sized” drone sightings became a major news story.

While there had been suspected drones at night in places across the United States, New Jersey in particular became a focal point due to a high concentration of reported sightings in the state.

Here are six things to know about the situation:

What is going on?

Sightings of suspected drones have been reported in the night skies near military sites, critical infrastructure, President-elect Donald Trump‘s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey, and elsewhere.

Videos of suspected drones posted all over social media and a lack of convincing answers fueled concerns.

Stranger things

Following a briefing on the situation at New Jersey State Police HQ, New Jersey Republican Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia shared a few stunning details.

The “large” drones were said to be 6 feet in diameter, operated in a coordinated manner, and appeared to avoid “traditional methods” of detection by helicopters and radio frequencies, Fantasias said.

Shoot them down?

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), who said “qualified sources” told him drones were coming from an Iranian “mothership” off the coast, suggested one should be shot down and studied.

Trump also floated the idea of blasting one of the suspected drones out of the air if the government did not open up about what it knows to the American public.

Feds investigate

The FBI said it has received thousands of tips, though most were not deemed worthy of further investigation, and officials stressed how there are roughly 1 million drones registered in the United States.

Federal authorities have insisted they have no evidence to suggest the sightings pose a threat or have a “foreign nexus.” They also said many of the sightings are believed to be manned aircraft operating lawfully.

Advanced tech deployed

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) sent New Jersey State Police a “drone-specific radar that also cues a highly capable EO/IR, or electro-optical infrared camera system,” a DHS official told reporters.

“If the radar detects a drone, the camera will be able to identify and track it,” the official said, adding, “This is extremely helpful for drones without a standard radio frequency signal.”

Flight restrictions

One week before Christmas, the Federal Aviation Administration implemented a new round of temporary restrictions on drone activity over “critical” infrastructure in parts of New Jersey.

According to DHS, the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution.”