What we know so far about the alleged drones in NJ, NY: Residents remain skeptical
Drone swarms spark fears across tri-state
Unexplained drone sightings continue to baffle residents across the tri-state area, with the latest incident occurring in Belleville, New Jersey. Mayor Michael Melham recorded dozens of drones swarming above homes and is joining the growing chorus of officials calling for answers. Mayor Eric Adams has acknowledged concerns, stating the city is actively investigating with federal, state, and local agencies. FOX 5's Teresa Priolo has the latest.
NEW JERSEY - Have you heard the buzzing sound coming out of New Jersey? No one seems to know whether it's drones or something else, but the nighttime sightings have sparked a flurry of talk, a wave of conspiracy theories, and plenty of necks craned skyward.
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said there was nothing to fear and that it was likely that people were mistaking manned aircraft for drones.
The backstory: But perhaps the most unbelievable aspect of this mystery is the growing number of conspiracies, none of which have been confirmed or even suggested by federal or state officials, who say they’re investigating the incidents. While the flying objects are commonly referred to as drones, there are questions about whether what people are seeing are truly unmanned aircraft or something entirely different.
Since Thanksgiving, the saga of the mysterious drones reported over New Jersey has escalated to new heights.
Why you should care:This week marked the beginning of a new chapter: lawmakers are now demanding (though so far not receiving) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind these sightings. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers, and newly elected Senator Andy Kim spent Thursday night hunting for drones in rural northern New Jersey, even posting updates about his search on X.
On Friday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged the concerns over the drone sightings, reassuring the public that the city is working closely with federal, state, and local agencies to investigate the incidents.
President-elect Donald Trump weighed in as well, calling for authorities to shoot down the mysterious drones seen over New Jersey and Staten Island. "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!!!" Trump posted on Truth Social.
Why are there drones in NJ?
Despite all the attention, police have yet to confirm any actual drone sightings. They did respond to a report of a drone crash near Route 206 in Hillsborough, Somerset County, but no drones were found. The initial report came from a Lowe’s parking lot on Thursday night, where a drone was said to have crashed into a power line and fallen into a field.
In a ride along with local police, Rep. Andy Kim described what he saw in a post on X.
"Last night I went out with local police to spot a drone flying over New Jersey. Here’s what I saw. We drove to Round Valley Reservoir and the officer pointed to lights moving low over the tree line," Kim said, in part.
What people are saying: The Facebook group, "New Jersey Mystery Drones – Let’s Solve It," has grown rapidly, with nearly 44,000 members as of Friday, up from 39,000 the night before. People are posting photos and videos of their sightings, and the online community jumps in with theories. One video shows a whitish light flying in the night sky, prompting one commenter to suggest it might be "otherworldly." Others debate whether it's a plane, satellite, or something else entirely. A few have even jokingly suggested hunting the drones down — but experts warn against shooting at anything in the sky.