Mysterious drones have been hovering over New Jersey and NYC, causing a stir and plenty of curiosity. As a result, nearly 5,000 tips regarding these sightings made their way to federal agencies, according to The New York Times.
What exactly is going on, and should this activity be a concern? Sure, this phenomenon isn’t anything unexpected — the NYPD distributed drones over NYC beaches during the summer to monitoring swimming, and in 2023 shark monitoring drones were stationed across New York waters — but details about the recent surge has remained elusive.
We did some digging to unravel the mystery behind these flying objects. Here’s what you need to know.
When did people first notice the drones?
Shortly before Thanksgiving, people in New Jersey began spotting drones, some residents claiming to see up to 15 at a time, according to reports in The New York Times. In early December, people in NYC began spotting the drones.
Where have the drones been spotted?
The drones have been spotted throughout central and northern New Jersey, including near military bases. As of mid-December, NYC residents began to spot them as well, particularly over La Guardia Airport and near the Verrazano Bridge. NYC officials claim that the drones are not a threat.
“At this time, there’s no evidence that these drones pose a public safety or national security threat,” Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement on Friday, December 13th.
Additionally, Governor Hochul revealed that the state is monitoring the situation alongside the FBI and Department of Homeland Security.
What are the drones?
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby suggested that these drones are actually manned aircraft like planes and helicopters that have been misidentified.
“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,” he said in a statement on December 13th.
However, The Times further reported that U.S. national security officials have yet to pinpoint who is operating the drones.
What to do if you see a drone?
The Department of Homeland Security recommends reporting unusual drone behavior to local authorities.