Feds struggle to explain mysterious "car-sized" drone sightings over New Jersey

In brief: It sounds for illustration thing consecutive retired of a conspiracy theorist's chaotic imagination – large, unidentified drones allegedly making mysterious appearances complete townships and moreover delicate subject sites. Yet, that's precisely what has been happening crossed New Jersey complete nan past month, sparking concerns and disorder among residents and authorities alike.

Reports began surfacing successful early December, originating adjacent nan Picatinny Arsenal service installation and moreover President-elect Donald Trump's Bedminster play resort. Since then, sightings person surged, pinch reports coming successful from crossed New Jersey and spilling complete into neighboring Pennsylvania and New York.

In existent 2024 fashion, astir everyone has a smartphone astatine nan ready. Numerous videos and photos of nan mysterious UAVs person been shared online and pinch nan FBI, which has now launched an investigation into nan bizarre situation.

So far, national authorities support that there's nary grounds suggesting nan drones airs immoderate benignant of threat aliases person links to overseas adversaries.

However, these drones don't look to beryllium nan emblematic assortment flown by videographers aliases FPV enthusiasts. Several witnesses person described them arsenic "car-sized," measuring up to six feet across. They reportedly run nether screen of darkness, sometimes cruising pinch their lights disconnected successful what appears to beryllium a stealth-like manner. Sightings consistently hap aft sunset.

Probably nan craziest videos retired of each nan New Jersey drone videos I've seen truthful far. This orb Transforms into a trade and is caught connected video . pic.twitter.com/jJ0yCZ4pID

Worse still, according to a authorities lawmaker briefed by Homeland Security, nan drones tin evade discovery by helicopters and power signals.

In response, 2 New Jersey congressmen, US Reps. Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, are calling connected nan subject to sprout nan drones down. Van Drew moreover speculated that nan incidents mightiness beryllium portion of an elaborate crippled by Iran, suggesting nan drones could beryllium launched from an offshore "mothership" – a declare nan Pentagon has denied.

As sightings proceed to increase, unit is mounting connected officials to return decisive action. Governor Phil Murphy has expressed openness to national forces shooting nan drones down if their root remains unidentified. At nan aforesaid time, he's trying to reassure nan public, emphasizing that location is nary reliable threat astatine this time.

The FBI shares a akin view, suggesting that galore of nan reported "drones" mightiness really beryllium regular craft misidentified by amateur observers.

One enthusiast, Mick West, supports this theory, citing his ain experience. He initially recorded what he thought was a drone, only to later place it arsenic a ray aircraft.

Still, dismissing each nan sightings arsenic wide hysteria seems unlikely, peculiarly fixed nan FBI's progressive involvement. If you hap to announcement thing different successful nan New Jersey skies, nan FBI encourages you to study it by calling their hotline astatine 1-800-225-5324 aliases submitting a extremity via their website.

Image credit: Stacy Dellanno Sackett