Culture AP: Numerous drone sightings in New Jersey frustrating but don’t pose safety concern, governor says - Who drone it?

Shipkowski, B. (2024, December 4th). FBI Investigating reports of large drones flying in New Jersey, seeks public's help. AP News.

https://apnews.com/article/fbi-drones-sightings-central-new-jersey-cd8866c9c2568216759007716990decf

FILE - New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy speaks during a press conference in Newark, N.J., Aug. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Munoz Alvarez, file)

PRINCETON, N.J. (AP) — Dozens of drones have been spotted across New Jersey in recent weeks, including near sensitive sites such as a military research facility, which can be frustrating but don’t appear to pose a public safety concern, Gov. Phil Murphy stressed Monday.

The FBI has been investigating reports about several mysterious nighttime drone flights that started occurring last month across central New Jersey and has asked the public for help. Since then, residents have reported seeing drones in other areas.

While speaking at an unrelated bill signing event in Princeton, Murphy noted there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday, mostly in Hunterdon County. The Democratic governor said those numbers included possible sightings and potentially the same drone being reported more than once.

“This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated,” Murphy said.

It’s unclear who is piloting the drones and why, but federal and state officials have repeatedly stressed that there is no known threat to public safety.

Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Drone operators also must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists.

The flights initially raised questions in part because they took place near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

Most of the drones have been spotted along coastal areas, and some of the devices were recently spotted over a large reservoir in Clinton.

The FBI asks that residents share any videos or photos they may have of the flights, along with any other relevant information.

U.S. Rep Chris Smith, a Republican, said he was on Long Beach Island Monday night with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy to look into the situation.

“Understandably, New Jersey residents are very alarmed at this significant and reoccurring phenomenon, and the tepid response from our state and federal agencies so far is totally unacceptable,” he said. “The people of New Jersey deserve swift and bold action on the part of our state and federal agencies to investigate, assess, and address the situation immediately and to alleviate the growing concerns of our community.”

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[Apteryx Retardi]

Anything "illicit" wouldn't have kept their lights on. There's probably some serious "oh shit, we were supposed to ask FAA?" panic going on in some utility company, or municipal department, or whatever atm.

 

[clipartfan92]

It's probably military. Something a little more organized was going on in Colorado back in 2019:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019–20_Colorado_drone_sightings

edit: This also was going on recently, but I think it was probably Russia fucking with us over allowing US supplied missiles being allowed to strike deeper into Russia around the same time frame.
Mystery Drones Spotted Over U.S. Air Bases in Britain (a)

 

[The Lawgiver]

I hear "large drones" and I think it's gonna be actual drones, not the "rc quadcopters rebranded as drones" stype of drone from the last near decade now.
God that reminds me I had an encounter like a few years before corona where someone flew down with one of the quadcopter in some outdoor museum and then flew off. I'd get why someone would get int rouble for THAT given it's a paid admission place but I never saw nor heard any news about anyone getting into legal issue over it. Fearmongering about quadcopter sightings is a new low for media hysteria, honestly.
EDIT: Shit, I just remembered we already went through the hysteria with the media YEARS AGO when they started calling quadcopters drones!

 

[666NASTYFUCKINGFREAK666]

Despite what people think, this is a rather big deal. Drones like these could be used to commit hate crimes against trannies, like what happened with Keffals and the Kiwi Farms Intercontinental Air Force (now with Global Strike Capability!)

 

[The Snail]

It's probably military. Something a little more organized was going on in Colorado back in 2019:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019–20_Colorado_drone_sightings

I assume it's something similar to this, too. Still, with people scared and left in the dark, hopefully this'll be a wake up call and lead more people to advocate for better drone legislation (like not being federally indicted for taking one down).

I hear "large drones" and I think it's gonna be actual drones, not the "rc quadcopters rebranded as drones" stype of drone from the last near decade now.
God that reminds me I had an encounter like a few years before corona where someone flew down with one of the quadcopter in some outdoor museum and then flew off. I'd get why someone would get int rouble for THAT given it's a paid admission place but I never saw nor heard any news about anyone getting into legal issue over it. Fearmongering about quadcopter sightings is a new low for media hysteria, honestly.

Anymore, it doesn't matter either or. The small ones need to be perceived as dangerous, by law enforcement and citizens. The schizophrenic in me is already scared of random small ones zipping by, after seeing classic war footage.

 

[Standardized Profile]

They're airplanes and helicopters flying in and out of MMU, or just passing by. We have good quality pictures of some, and the sightings with enough data have all been identified via Flight Aware or Flight Radar 24 on Metabunk.

 

[Lady Adjani]

It’s unclear who is piloting the drones and why, but federal and state officials have repeatedly stressed that there is no known threat to public safety

Because they probably greenlit the whole thing.

 

[Apteryx Retardi]

EDIT: Shit, I just remembered we already went through the hysteria with the media YEARS AGO when they started calling quadcopters drones!

My late grandparents mostly empty farmhouse is in EE/EU a few klicks from EU's external border. The entire border region is plastered with posters saying "if you see a drone crossing the border, call 911 110". Local gopniks have been optimizing their excise taxes with cheap chinesium quadcopters, a few packs of Marlboros at the time, since mid-late 2010s.

 

[break these cuffs]

t's probably military. Something a little more organized was going on in Colorado back in 2019:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2019–20_Colorado_drone_sightings

The theory surrounding at least some of these incidents commonly held in the MIL and veteran community is that they're being done by a Red Cell. The first known Red Cell (OP-O6D) was formed during the Cold War by notorious DEVGRU founder, convicted felon, and gloryhound Dick Marcinko. The team used rather unorthodox methods to penetration test US facilities including one notorious incident where they kidnapped a civilian security guard from a Naval installation. I believe, and I'm sure a lot of others as well, that this is just the only opfor program of it's kind that we know about and that there have been numerous others.

Given the rising threat of drones before 2022 and the explosion of it after the Ukraine invasion, it's a given that the DoD would be doing a lot of work in the area. For instance, the tranny grifters from Trans Lifeline that bought land out in the desert in 2016 (2017?) to build The Tranch 1.0 without realizing that they were just a few miles down the road from a deactivated impact range on NAWS China Lake. The kicker came when I dug into the range and found out it was being reactivated for drone related research and development as well as special operations training in the use of small drones. Some of this may not even be some black ops team, it could be regular hitters doing regular training with drones.

 

[The Mass Shooter Ron Soye]

It's probably military. Something a little more organized was going on in Colorado back in 2019:

They're airplanes and helicopters flying in and out of MMU, or just passing by. We have good quality pictures of some, and the sightings with enough data have all been identified via Flight Aware or Flight Radar 24 on Metabunk.

https://www.nj.com/morris/2024/12/nj-military-base-had-11-confirmed-mystery-drone-sightings-army-says.html

https://archive.ph/EWMVO

N.J. military base had 11 ‘confirmed’ mystery drone sightings, Army says​

Picatinny Arsenal, the Army facility in Morris County, has had 11 confirmed sightings of unauthorized drones flying over in its airspace in recent weeks, military officials said.

The first confirmed sighting at Picatinny witnessed by a police or security officer at the arsenal was Nov. 13, five days earlier than previously reported, Army officials said Monday. Seven other sightings remained unconfirmed, including one reported Friday at the military research and manufacturing facility in Jefferson and Rockaway Township.

“While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remain unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activities,” said Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Commander.

It is illegal to fly unauthorized drones over military bases. The FAA added additional drone flight restrictions over Picatinny and Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County last week.

The sightings at the Army facility were among the earliest reported in a flood of drone sightings in recent weeks around the state. Residents have reported multiple drones flying over the same areas of New Jersey each night along with unusually large drones, the kind not usually used by hobbyists, over some areas.

It is unclear if the drone sightings are related. Gov. Phil Murphy and other law enforcement officials have said there is no evidence the unexplained drones pose a threat to the state. The FBI is investigating the sightings statewide, including the reports at Picatinny Arsenal.

Murphy said there were 49 reports of drone sighting statewide on Sunday, but some of those turned out to be planes mistakenly identified as drones. Investigators were looking into the other reports.

Picatinny Arsenal released a list Monday of the dates of 18 sightings, including the 11 confirmed incidents. “Confirmed” means a police officer or security guard “visibly witnessed a drone” while or after receiving the report, military officials said.

Picatinny Arsenal’s list also includes seven “unconfirmed” reports of drones, which means a police officer received a call but was “unable to verify the object upon arriving on the scene,” Army officials said. Two of the unconfirmed reports were listed as “aircraft.”

Bonham said Picatinny Arsenal officials immediately began investigating the initial reports, with several local, state, and federal partners.

The FBI, the lead agency in the investigation, did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the sightings at Picatinny.

The Picatinny Arsenal Police Department received the reports of the evening drone activity.

Confirmed sightings occurred Nov. 13, Nov. 18, Nov. 19, and Nov. 24, when there were two, as well as nightly between Nov. 28 and Nov. 30. There were also two confirmed sightings on Dec. 3 and one on Dec. 6.

There were two unconfirmed sightings Nov. 26, one Dec. 2, three Dec. 4, and one Dec. 6.

At Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, officials said they are actively monitoring the drone sightings.

“While we have received reports from our neighboring communities and law enforcement partners regarding drone activity near the installation, there have been no reports of drone activity in the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle at this time,” said Bill Addison, a spokesman for the station.

Officials at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County referred questions about whether the base has had any drone sightings to the FBI.

 

[COME ON OUT YOU RAPIST]

The governor is strangely nonplussed considering how easy it is to fix an explosive to one of these drones and have it casually assault someone like a cliff racer.

 

[REGENDarySumanai]

Time to invest in anti-air countermeasures.

 

[Soycast Guy]

When I heard of these drones I immediately thought “China”. I don’t know, is this not concerning to anybody?

The small ones need to be perceived as dangerous, by law enforcement and citizens. The schizophrenic in me is already scared of random small ones zipping by, after seeing classic war footage.

Can’t one of these little drones cut your neck open if it’s propellers collide with you?

 

[The Mass Shooter Ron Soye]

When I heard of these drones I immediately thought “China”. I don’t know, is this not concerning to anybody?

Let's just peel off the band-aid. It's ayy lmaos.

 

[Dagoth AMOGUS]

If machines are this annoying in human control, picture if they had autonomy. They might be worse, or better

 

[The Snail]

The governor is strangely nonplussed considering how easy it is to fix an explosive to one of these drones and have it casually assault someone like a cliff racer.

The state and its government operates on the most arrogant modern liberal mindset. The yankee's mindset is one without foresight; they don't believe they can be touched. That's why there's so much shock and surprise when something bad happens.

When I heard of these drones I immediately thought “China”. I don’t know, is this not concerning to anybody?

I hope it's concerning to people. People need to start throwing rocks and shooting bows and arrows at them.

 

[Cats]

you guys want some entertainment, the UFO subreddit is literally tearing themselves apart in real time over this. It is hilarious.

People are debunking the majority of the drones as planes with photographic proof and they have shifted to saying that the drones are still alien probes they are now just mimicking the appearance of planes. Anything is proof of aliens now a photograph of a toaster or a monkey in a tree. it's just a mimic! lmfao

of course reddits pozzed mods wont let you call these people idiots.

 

[clipartfan92]

Shoot one out of the sky and you'll find out real quick who owns it.

 

[John Badman]

you guys want some entertainment, the UFO subreddit is literally tearing themselves apart in real time over this. It is hilarious.

People are debunking the majority of the drones as planes with photographic proof and they have shifted to saying that the drones are still alien probes they are now just mimicking the appearance of planes. Anything is proof of aliens now a photograph of a toaster or a monkey in a tree. it's just a mimic! lmfao

of course reddits pozzed mods wont let you call these people idiots.

Never point out to a redditor that planes also use red, green, and white lights. No alien child, that’s a smegmoid drone from zeta reticulon here to spy on military secrets, not my poor eyesight late at night.