Multiple sightings of the aerial object after sunset have sparked concern along the U.S. East Coast and widespread anger over the federal government’s response.
Since last month, New Jersey authorities have received numerous reports of drones dotting the night sky over the country’s most populous state, sometimes in swarms and without any apparent purpose.
Sightings have also been reported in Maryland and Virginia, including suburban Washington.
Officials from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Federal Aviation Administration, White House and Pentagon said in a joint briefing on Saturday that there was no evidence of large-scale or malicious drone activity. They attribute many of the sightings to manned aircraft, such as airplanes.
“We do not have any evidence at this time that this poses a threat to public safety,” a Department of Homeland Security official said.
The FBI said it had received about 5,000 tips, but fewer than 100 warranted further investigation.
“The density of reported sightings is consistent with the approach pattern [the region’s] “Very busy airports” — New York’s LaGuardia and JFK airports, as well as Newark Liberty International Airport, FBI officials said.
While the FBI says it is cooperating with local authorities, state officials are not entirely satisfied with the federal response.
“I remain deeply concerned that Virginia has been seeking information from federal partners and that, to date, not enough has been shared with the commonwealth,” said Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin.
James Dodd, the mayor of Dover, New Jersey, earlier said the official response was “disturbing.”
“We can launch missiles from 5,000 miles away, but we can’t determine where these drones are coming from?” he said.
Dover is located near Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military installation. The Federal Aviation Administration last month imposed temporary flight restrictions on drones over the site, citing “special safety reasons.” Similar restrictions were announced this month in the area surrounding President-elect Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
Despite the surge in drone sightings, such restrictions have not yet been implemented elsewhere in the state.
Dodd is one of the New Jersey mayors invited to participate in a briefing hosted by the New Jersey State Police this week. He said he came away frustrated because he felt there was so little information about a serious issue.
He posted a question-and-answer document he received from the Department of Homeland Security on his town’s website. “It is unclear who is operating the drones,” the document said.
Drone reports have been spreading along the eastern seaboard. Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan wrote on social media that he witnessed “what appeared to be dozens of large drones” flying over his home for about 45 minutes on Thursday night. .
“Like many who have observed these drones, I don’t know if the increased activity in our skies poses a threat to public safety or national security. But the public is increasingly dismissive of the federal government’s complete lack of transparency and dismissive attitude Feeling worried and frustrated, he posted a video of what he said was the plane.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday that the state is working with federal authorities to investigate drone sightings in the state.
Mary-Lou Smulders, chief marketing officer of Dedrone, which helps public safety agencies detect drones, said federal regulations place few restrictions on civilian drone use. Violations include flying too close to sensitive locations such as airports and nuclear power plants and at altitudes exceeding 400 feet.
Even so, these rules are often violated. Dedrone’s sensors have recorded more than 1.1 million breaches so far this year.
Smulders said state and local police do not have the authority to intercept drones. In some cases, these powers are granted to only four federal departments, making it difficult to crack down on violators.
Sandwiched between New York City and Philadelphia, New Jersey has some of the busiest airspace in North America.
This week, Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., said the flights took off from an “Iranian drone mothership” in the Atlantic Ocean.
Trump made the remarks on Friday, posting on social media platforms that the government should be more candid or else the plane would be shot down.
U.S. officials said they do not assess that the drone activity is linked to any foreign actor or adversary. Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singer said Wednesday that no Iranian ships had launched drones toward the United States.
Additional reporting by Felicia Schwartz in Washington
