Recently, dozens of unidentified drones have been spotted in the skies across various locations in the state of New Jersey over the past few weeks. Some of these drones were sighted near military facilities and President Trump’s golf course. Governor Phil Murphy stated on December 9 that he is taking this matter “very seriously,” although he emphasized that so far it does not seem to pose a public safety threat.
According to a report by 1010Wins radio station, reports of mysterious nighttime drone flights have been emerging in central New Jersey since last month. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has launched an investigation and requested the public’s assistance. Since then, residents in other areas have also reported sightings of drones. The initial sightings occurred near the U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, Picatinny Arsenal, as well as above Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, sparking concern. Most of the drones were found in coastal areas of New Jersey.
Governor Murphy, speaking at a bill signing event in Princeton on December 9, noted that a total of 49 drone sighting reports had been received as of the 8th, with the majority occurring in Hunterdon County. These drones appear to be “very advanced” and once spotted, they go dark. Therefore, he is taking this matter “very seriously” and has been in discussions with White House officials. However, both federal and state officials have emphasized that there is currently no known public safety threat.
However, Republican Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey criticized the federal government and the tepid response as completely unacceptable. He called for a swift investigation to alleviate public concerns. According to NJ.com, Republican State Senator Jon Bramnick, who is running for governor, urged Governor Murphy to declare a limited state of emergency, banning drone flights until the situation is resolved.