NY-NJ Drone Mystery: Unraveling the Truth

Since mid-November 2024, numerous reports of large drones flying over New Jersey and New York have sparked a massive investigation. The sightings, initially dismissed as no threat, have prompted concern from residents, officials, and even the Pentagon.

A Timeline of Events

• November 19: Law enforcement in Morris County, NJ, reports drone activity. Initial statements claim no public safety threat.

• November 22: The FAA issues a temporary flight restriction (TFR) over Bedminster, NJ, near President-elect Trump's golf course. This area becomes a key focus of the mystery.

• November 25: Another TFR is enacted over Picatinny Arsenal, a military base in New Jersey.

• December 3: The Morris County Prosecutor's Office advises the public on reporting drone activity. The FBI launches its own investigation.

• December 9: Twenty-one New Jersey mayors demand a full investigation and preventative measures.

• December 11: The Pentagon debunks claims that the drones were from an "Iranian mothership."

• December 12: New York and New Jersey senators urge the FBI, FAA, and DHS for a briefing on the investigation. The White House assures the public there is no known national security threat.

• December 13: Drones enter the airspace of Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey. A drone sighting at Stewart International Airport briefly shuts down runways.

• December 14: Federal agencies report receiving thousands of tips, but only a small fraction have yielded credible leads. Many sightings were likely misidentified aircraft.

• December 15: Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas confirms some sightings are drones, others misidentified aircraft. New legislation is proposed to increase state and local control. Top officials push for deployment of drone-hunting technology.

• December 16: President-elect Trump suggests the Biden administration is withholding information. Law enforcement warns against citizens taking action against potential drones. A multi-agency statement concludes that the sightings, while numerous, do not pose a national security or public safety risk.

The Conclusion?

While the mystery initially sparked alarm, the investigation suggests many sightings are misidentified aircraft. The origin of some drone activity remains unclear, but authorities maintain there's no current national security or public safety threat.