It began with a hum over the Raritan river, a fleeting light against the night sky, and an unsettling question: Who—or what—was piloting these machines?
Driving the news- Mysterious drones have been buzzing the skies of New Jersey, New York, and other eastern states, unsettling residents and sparking bipartisan calls for federal action.
- The surge in drone sightings began in November, primarily in northern New Jersey, and quickly spread to New York City and other parts of the Northeast. Reports describe unidentified flying objects—sometimes with lights switched off—hovering near sensitive locations, including military facilities like the Picatinny Arsenal, and airports such as Stewart International.
- Efforts to uncover the source have yet to yield answers, leaving federal officials scrambling to reassure the public. Alejandro Mayorkas, homeland security secretary, confirmed that “there’s no question that drones are being sighted.”
- Lawmakers, led by Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, are urging the deployment of advanced drone-tracking technology to identify the sources of these mysterious flights, address public concerns, and close glaring gaps in US airspace security.
- The sightings have also drawn the attention of social media users and conspiracy theorists. Facebook groups dedicated to the so-called “New Jersey Mystery Drones” have amassed tens of thousands of followers, many speculating wildly about foreign espionage, covert government programs, or even extraterrestrial origins.
Why it mattersThe drone sighting incidents highlights a major gap in the US ability to monitor and control its own airspace. Although new Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules require drones to broadcast their location and operator details, the technology to effectively track and neutralize unauthorized drones remains underdeveloped.
Some drones have reportedly flown dangerously close to sensitive areas, including US military research facilities and commercial airports. This raises concerns about the potential for espionage, critical infrastructure sabotage, or accidents. Public unease has grown further due to vague and often contradictory statements from government agencies.
The big picture- Unclear origins: So far, despite investigations by Homeland Security and the FBI, the origin of the drones remains unknown. Some officials suggest many sightings may involve manned aircraft mistaken for drones, but others point to unusual flight patterns and large drone sizes, beyond what hobbyists typically use.
- A widening phenomenon: While initial sightings were concentrated in New Jersey, reports have since emerged from New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. Even high-profile locations like President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, NJ, have reportedly seen drone activity.
- Technological gaps: Drone-tracking technology exists, but it is not yet widely deployed. A recently declassified radio-wave detector could identify drones and their operators by reading electronic signals and tracing them to their origins. Schumer has called for the immediate use of this technology in affected areas.
China, Iran or UFOs?Some speculate the drones originated from an Iranian mothership. Others suggest they are Secret Service drones ensuring the security of President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster property. Concerns also swirl around potential involvement from China, the deep state, aliens, UFOs and beyond.
Amid the uncertainty, people have turned to a familiar outlet: creating a social media group.
The Facebook page New Jersey Mystery Drones — let’s solve it now boasts nearly 44,000 members, up from 39,000 late Thursday. Members share photos and videos of their sightings, leaving online commenters to analyze and theorize.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi expressed concerns about the increasing presence of Chinese-made drones in the US. Krishnamoorthi pointed out that even the US military purchases these drones "because they are cheap." He warned that China might be able to access data from these drones "in a backdoor manner," potentially using them to spy on Americans.
"The problem is, you are basically sacrificing our national security in the name of buying more inexpensive drones," he said.