What we know about the mysterious drones hovering over New Jersey

Drone sightings in New Jersey have been a mystery for nearly a month, sparking fear among residents and sparking heated debate over what the flying objects are — and whether they are actually drones.

US officials have been unable to provide a definitive answer, saying only that the items are not believed to pose a threat to public or national security.

On Thursday, White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters that available images showed that many of the drones seen were actually manned aircraft.

But some MPs have criticized the government’s handling of drones and the lack of information available to the public.

Here’s what we know about the drone and the subsequent investigation.

Dozens of drone sightings have been reported in New Jersey since November 18, according to local officials.

The drone was initially spotted near the Raritan River, a waterway that drains into the Round Valley Reservoir – the largest in New Jersey, the Associated Press reports.

The scene soon spread to other parts of the state, including the New Jersey coast.

Some flights were spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal – a sensitive military research facility – as well as President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in the city of Bedminster, New Jersey.

In nearby New York City, multiple drones were reported flying over the Bronx on December 12, a police officer told the BBC’s US partner CBS News.

Officers responding to the incident saw drones flying overhead, but they soon disappeared.

According to New York State Police, drones have also been reported in other parts of the state.

Connecticut police have also confirmed that “suspicious drone activity” has occurred in various parts of the state. A drone detection system has been deployed around the cities of Groton and New London.

In Maryland, former Republican Governor Larry Hogan claimed he saw “dozens” of drones over his residence in Davidsonville, about 25 miles (40 km) from Washington, DC.

“Like many people who see these drones, I don’t know whether this increased activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security,” he wrote on Twitter. But the public is becoming concerned and frustrated by the overall shortage. “Transparency and a dismissive attitude from the federal government.”

In late November, the United States Air Force also confirmed that unidentified drones had been sighted at three American airbases in Britain: RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.

UK defense sources told the BBC that a “state actor” is suspected to be responsible for the intrusion.

In October, The Wall Street Journal also reported that mysterious drones had been seen near US military facilities in Virginia for 17 days.

This remains a mystery.

But both federal and state officials have said they do not believe they are dangerous or a threat to US national security.

After a briefing with the Department of Homeland Security on December 11, New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said that drones avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopters and radios.

Fantasia said the drones are up to 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter, travel with the lights off and “act in a coordinated manner”.

His comments stand in stark contrast to the White House, which has suggested these are “manned aircraft.”

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security also said that most of the sightings appeared to be legitimate, manned flights.

No casualties have been reported in restricted airspace, the statement said.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a statement Friday saying more and more people are using drones, which means more people are seeing them in the sky.

It states that while drones can be flown in most locations below 400 feet (121 m), drones cannot be flown in controlled airspace around airports without FAA authorization; exceeding designated, national security-sensitive facilities; in some military bases, infrastructure and national sites; and in airspace subject to temporary flight restrictions.

If the objects are confirmed to be drones – which is unclear at this point – it is unclear who may be operating them.

Citing unnamed “high sources”, New Jersey Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew said they were coming from an Iranian “mothership” in the Atlantic.

The Pentagon quickly rejected the comment, saying there was “no truth to it”.

“There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there is no so-called mothership launching drones toward the United States,” deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh told reporters.

Another lawmaker, Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamurthy — who is on the congressional committee that oversees China’s Communist Party — told media outlet NewsNation that there is a “non-trivial” possibility that China could get involved.

“It’s certainly a possibility and a possibility that they could access the data collected by these drones,” he said.

Both the Pentagon and the White House have insisted that the objects have no foreign origin.

Van Drew and other lawmakers have rejected those denials.

“Here’s the deal: They don’t know what it is. They don’t know what it’s about,” Van Drew told Fox News. “They don’t know where it comes from, but they know what it’s not about? It’s bullshit.”

In a separate incident across the country, a Northern California man was accused of flying a drone and taking photos on Dec. 11 over Vandenberg Space Force Base near Santa Barbara.

The incident allegedly occurred on November 30, according to prosecutors.

The man, Yinpiao Zhou, a 39-year-old Chinese national, was arrested just before boarding a flight to China. He appeared in court on Tuesday and no plea was entered.

There has been no suggestion that this incident is related to reports of drone sightings on the East Coast.

Several MPs have suggested that drones should be shot down and analyzed to trace their origin and intentions.

These include newly elected President Donald Trump, who suggested on his Truth social media platform that drones cannot be flown without the government’s knowledge.

“Tell the public, and now,” he wrote. “Otherwise, shoot them.”

The US Federal Aviation Administration has also instituted temporary flight restrictions prohibiting drone flights over Bedminster and Picatinny.

In a statement, the FAA also warned that drone operators who conduct unsafe or dangerous operations could face fines of up to $75,000 (£59,000) and have their drone pilot certificates revoked.

In a letter to US President Joe Biden published on December 13, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged federal agencies to “work together” to solve the mystery, as well as counter-drone capabilities for local law enforcement. Put pressure on Congress to expand it.

Some residents have suggested they could take action against drones themselves – authorities have strongly warned against doing so, as it is illegal.

“A good gun would fix that problem,” one person commented on a video of a drone on social media.