The mysterious drone incidents in the United States continue to escalate, spreading to at least 8 states. Drones have been sighted over residential areas, military bases, and critical infrastructure, raising concerns about where they come from, whether they pose a security threat, and if there are foreign espionage attempts, leaving more and more people feeling uneasy. Bipartisan members of Congress are urging the Biden administration to take action to uncover the truth.
Since mid-November, the mysterious drone incidents have put significant pressure on federal agencies. They have been asked to provide more information about these aircraft, while officials urge people to remain calm and emphasize that there is no evidence to suggest these sightings pose a security threat.
Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, reassured the American public on an ABC program last Sunday (December 15) that “I want to assure the American public that we are dealing with this matter.”
Bob Purtiman, the Public Affairs spokesperson for the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, stated that drones flying around the base forced officials to close the airspace for about four hours from Friday night (December 13) to Saturday morning. Authorities were monitoring the situation at the same time.
This is one of the largest military bases globally. Purtiman mentioned on Monday (December 16) that this was the first time drones were discovered at the base. He declined to disclose how many drones were found, adding that they varied in size but did not impact any facilities at the base.
Reports indicate that the mysterious drone activities also led to the temporary closure of the runway at New York’s Stewart International Airport for about an hour last Friday night.
According to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), these drone sightings began near Morris County, New Jersey, on November 18. Republican Congressman Paul Kanitra from New Jersey informed CNN on December 13 that drones have been appearing every night since then. Concerned residents frequently report seeing drones hovering in the sky, sometimes flying in groups.
The mysterious drone incidents quickly spread throughout the entire state of New Jersey, causing alarm. Military officials and state lawmakers stated that drones were found near the Picatinny Arsenal military research facility in New Jersey and over the Bedminster golf course where President-elect Trump resides, escalating concerns and prompting the FAA to issue temporary flight restrictions over these areas.
Reports of “several unexplained drone incursions into airspace” above the Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey were also made, though no direct threat was identified.
The drone sightings started in November primarily in New Jersey and then rapidly spread to New York and other regions.
So far, drone sightings have occurred in at least eight states. These states include New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts, and California.
People’s anxiety is growing as the mysterious drone phenomenon extends to more states. Where do these drones come from, what are their purposes – the government has yet to provide clear answers.
Some members of Congress are concerned that these drones could be part of an insidious plot by foreign operatives. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the Chief Democratic member of the Select Committee on the CCP, expressed his views on the escalating drone incidents on NewsNation’s “The Hill” program on December 11.
When asked if drone incidents could be malicious operations by the CCP, he responded, “It’s definitely a possibility, and the likelihood that they’re getting a wealth of data from these drones is very high.”
Krishnamoorthi reiterated his concerns that if the drones are manufactured in China, they could be transmitting collected information to the CCP.
Despite assertions from the Biden administration officials that ongoing state and federal investigations have not found any evidence supporting concerns of foreign drone espionage, Congressman Chris Smith responded to such speculations on December 14.
“The elusive maneuverability of these drones suggests a sophistication of major military power, raising the question: are they being deployed to test our defenses — or worse — by violent authoritarian regimes, perhaps Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea,” he said.
Earlier this week, a Chinese citizen residing legally in the United States was arrested for operating a drone above Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. He was apprehended at San Francisco airport and charged while preparing to fly to China.
Robert Wheeler, Assistant Director of the FBI Critical Incident Response Group, testified before Congress that the agency is investigating unexplained drone sightings near U.S. military locations.
New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew suggested that the drones could also be launched by Iran via a mothership.
Mayor Mike Ghassali of Montville, New Jersey, stated that federal officials investigating the sightings have briefed local authorities, noting that these potential drones sometimes operate in a coordinated fashion and can fly for up to six hours.
Vito Fossella, the district president of Staten Island, New York, noted that these drones often fly at night, have been seen hovering above critical infrastructure, including the New York Harbor near the Goethals Bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and Fort Wadsworth. Fort Wadsworth is one of the oldest military installations in the United States.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday the deployment of a new “state-of-the-art drone detection system” by federal authorities in the state.
During a White House-organized press call on December 14, senior officials from the FBI, the Pentagon, the FAA, and other agencies sought to reassure the public that these drones do not pose a threat to national security or public safety, nor are they the work of malevolent foreign forces.
The White House stated that a review of the reported sightings revealed that many of the items sighted were actually manned aircraft flying legally, aligning with the perspectives of Biden administration officials and drone experts.
The Department of Homeland Security and FBI also stated in a joint declaration that they have no evidence indicating these sightings pose a “national security or public safety threat or are related to any foreign entities.”
Former President Trump stated that the U.S. government knows what’s happening, the military knows where the drones are launched from, but for some reason, they do not want to comment on it.
Trump previously suggested shooting down the drones.
A New Jersey Congressman urged the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to shoot down one or more drones to determine who deployed these aircraft.
Congressman Smith, at a press conference on December 14, mentioned that drones could be shot down over the ocean or uninhabited areas.
“Why can’t we at least capture one drone to find out the truth?” Smith asked.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy posted on X platform on the evening of December 15 that he went out to investigate with New Jersey State Police in Trenton.
“The public deserves clear answers–we will continue to urge the federal government to provide more information and resources,” he said.
(This article is based on reports from CNN and the Associated Press)