2024 New Jersey drone sightings

2024 New Jersey drone sightings has sent New Jersey residents to turning their eyes to the skies after unidentified drones were reported in their state. On Sunday night, December 8, 2024, 49 drone sightings were observed by New Jersey residents. Not all the sightings were legitimate, said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy who spoke after a bill signing December 9 in Princeton, New Jersey. Murphy said one of the sightings was a small plane while in other instances there were multiple reports of the same objects that night. The drones were first reported on November 18. The unidentified drones have been seen flying over Picatinny Arsenal and near former President Trump's golf club. Murphy said the public had nothing to fear and the incident was being investigated by the FBI.
"We understand the concern, and we are doing all we can to figure out what's going on," a spokeswoman for the FBI's Newark Field Office, which is leading the investigation, told PIX11 News. "We truly don't have much information to provide at the moment." The statement was reported by Newsweek on December 10, 2024.

Residents in the Delaware Valley in Pennsylvania have also viewed the drones, according to Maureen Rush a retired a 45 year peace officer veteran. Rush said most of the drones were commercial size drones seen flying in flocks. "My other concern is that there are multiple drone sightings. They're almost in a flock. If they were geese, they'd be in a flock, and that's what's really unnerving for people," she said.

As of December 13, 2024, sightings were reported at both Naval Weapons Station Earl south of Middletown, New Jersey and Marine Corps Camp Pendleton located in San Diego County in California. "The command is aware of recent drone activity in the surrounding communities," said Staff Sgt. Kathryn Lynch Thursday. "No military unmanned aerial systems (UAS) training or activity has occurred during the time or place in question. Lynch is a spokes person for Camp Pendleton.

Fox News reported on December 15 drones were sighted at the Nevada National Security Site and Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert of California. The Edwards AFB drone sightings occurred during an unspecified time in 2024. MSN backed up the Fox News report concerning the Nevada drone sighting which occurred in October 2024. Earlier in December drone sightings were also reported atRamstein Air Base in Germany according to Fox News.

As of December 17, 2024, helicopters were keeping an eye on potential drone activity in Pennsylvania. Meanwhile, the federal government was sending anti-drone and detection systems to two military installations in New Jersey.

Government response to 2024 drone activity

United States Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker and Andy Kim request briefings from Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wanting to know what actions they are taking to work with federal and local agencies to determine the source of unmanned aerial system activity in both New Jersey and New York area. Gillibrand is known for her efforts in working with government agencies to determine security challenges in American airspace. She also created All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) where she said on Fox News December 12, 2024, drone witnesses can file their reports. “We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal on December 12, 2024.

"White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels." Meanwhile Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the drones are not US military drones.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said some drone sightings were mistaken identity and some of the small craft could be bought at a convenience store. He went onto state "We have various authorities that are discreet to their particular missions. We can't just shoot a drone out of the sky." President-elect Donald Trump said he would shoot down the drones unless the government can inform the public on who is flying the drones.

Homeland Security-Republicans committee issued a December 12, 2024, press release which covered the public meeting held in Washington, D.C. The key points of the meeting concluded the drones were of unknown origin, US authorities did not know who was behind the drone sightings, a description of what New Jersey witness sightings, and how reauthorizing The Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act of 2024 would give federal and state agencies the ability to employ counter-drone measures. During the meeting some committee members discussed the potential origins of the drones and how the United States does not use China for drones. “It’s no secret that the preponderance of the UAS technology is manufactured in China, and that the cartels are using that very technology. We share your concerns. There is a reason why we don’t use Chinese drones––because they knowingly or unknowingly are potentially collecting information for the government of China,” said Keith Jones. Jones is the deputy executive assistant commissioner of Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO). During the meeting Representative Eli Crane asked Robert W. Wheeler Jr., assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Critical Incident Response Group about the New Jersey drone sightings. Wheel said "So [from] the public reports and what we have from eyewitness sightings, some of those very credible police personnel and others, are what we describe as unidentified drones. We do not know the particular specifics of what those drones are. Some are described as being slightly larger than a commercially available drone, fixed wing as well as rotary. We have helped analyze, with our partners, video and pictures of what those look like that have been submitted. Part of that is these over 3,000 tips from the public…We don’t know the people responsible behind that, and that’s what we’re working on.”

Government officials assured Americans on December 17 by stating most of the drone sightings were lawfully operated craft or stars. White House national security communications adviser Kirby said the federal government had investigated and cleared 5,000 reported sightings and the FBI was investigating another 100 reports. Kirby said “We have not identified anything anomalous or any national security or public safety risks over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the Northeast.”

Backing up Kirby's statements was a news release titled "DHS, FBI, FAA & DoD Joint Statement on Ongoing Response to Reported Drone Sightings" which supported Kirby's statements. The news release was issued through the DoD at Defense.gov

Federal Aviation Administration restricts unmanned aircraft

The Federal Aviation Administration issued a FAA Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) December 18, 2024, restricting unmanned aircraft (drone) access in heavily populated areas of New Jersey. The ban is scheduled to end January 17, 2025. "The government may use “deadly force” against the drones if they present an “imminent security threat,” the NOTAM said." New Jersey cities affected by the NOTAM include: New Jersey, including: Jersey City, Bayonne, Elizabeth, Harrison, Kearny, Edison, Bridgewater, Cedar Grove, Hamilton, North and South Brunswick, Branchburg, Woodbridge, Clifton, Westampton, Winslow, Gloucester City and Camden. Also, drone pilots could have their drones detained and examined by law enforcement or security personnel.Link to the FAA NOTAM:https://tfr.faa.gov/save_pages/notam_actual_4_8570.html

Law enforcement response

"We are shocked by the lack of response or update from Federal and State officials," Chief Scott D. Robb, president of the Warren County Police Chiefs Association," said Robb as reported by News Week on December 13, 2024. Robb challenged the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) "no known threat" from the drones flying over New Jersey. Robb also said "We do not agree with their (the FBI) response that there is no known threat to the public at this time. It is our stance that just the unidentified drone flying over us is a threat in itself." Monmouth County, New Jersey Sheriff Shaun Golden recommends legislation giving states the right to take appropriate action when needed. "We need to have our legislation keep pace with the laws and the operation of drones," Golden said. "We know that the FAA and the federal government is solely in charge of the airways and the drone operations. As we see it today, we're calling upon Congress, and Congressman Smith is leading the way to modify legislation so that not just three federal agencies are able to have drone detection.Congressman Chris Smith held a press conference where various New Jersey public and law enforcement officials discussed the drones flying over New Jersey since mid-November 2024.

Both the FBI and New Jersey State Police said Wednesday December 18, 2024, to not shoot or target drones as this was against the law. The news release was posted to the social media site X after there was an increase of laser activity causing the laser light to strike pilots in the eyes while flying, according to law enforcement officials.

Department of Defense response

On December 14, 2024, the Department of Defense (DoD) issued a news release stating drone sightings over military installations were typical.
"We have had confirmed sightings at Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle," the (unidentified from the Joint Staff) spokesperson said. "This is not a new issue for us. We've had to deal with drone incursions over our bases for quite a time now. It's something that we routinely respond to in each and every case when reporting is cited. The spokesperson said military installations have means to detect and respond to such drones, and that security personnel are trained to identify, categorize and employ those tools to keep drones from flying unauthorized over U.S. military bases."

The news release said "the FBI, DHS, FAA and DOD" agencies were unable to determine who is flying the drones and there was no "adversary nations involved." The news release went onto to explain the federal government could not conduct intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance operations outside of military installations in the United States which might be used to determine the origins of who might be flying the drones. In most instances where federal agencies have a good working relationship with local enforcement they can coordinate their investigations.

"We don't know what the activity is. We don't know ... if it is criminal. But I will tell you that it is irresponsible. Here on the military side, we are just as frustrated with the irresponsible nature of this activity," ended the news release.https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/4002374/joint-staff-addresses-drones-over-new-jersey-military-installations/

Military base air space temporarily shut down

Wright-Patterson Air Force base air space was temporarily shut down on late Friday, December 13, and early Saturday morning, December 14, according to Bob Purtiman, chief of public affairs for the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base located near Dayton, Ohio. A "Notice to Airmen" was also posted on a federal website reports Cable News Network (CNN). Purtiman described the vehicles as "small unmanned aerial systems." Base personnel monitored the unmanned aerial systems and base leadership determined the incident did not affect base residents or base activities, according to Purtiman. The War Zone, a YouTuber, shared a video of an air traffic controller telling a pilot flying "MedFlight 8" to use "extreme caution" as there was heavy UAS movement on the base, according to CNN. CNN journalists contacted the Air Force about the incident and there was no immediate response.