New Jersey governor wants more federal resources for probe into drone sightings
TOMS RIVER, NJ — Gov. Phil Murphy has asked the Biden administration to put more resources into an investigation mysterious drone sightings that have been reported in New Jersey and nearby states.
Murphy, a Democrat, made the request in a letter Thursday, noting that law enforcement at the state and local level remains “hamstrung” by existing laws and policies in their efforts to successfully counter any nefarious unmanned aircraft activity . He posted a copy of the letter on the website social media platform.
“This leaves the action surrounding the (drones) squarely on the shoulders of the federal government,” Murphy said. “More federal resources are needed to understand what is behind this activity.”
Murphy and other officials have repeatedly emphasized that there is no evidence the plane poses a threat to national security or public safety or has any foreign relationship. The Pentagon has also said they are not US military drones.
The drones have sparked widespread public concern and curiosity since residents first reported seeing them last month. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said that since November 18, four to 180 aircraft have been reported to authorities, appearing from dusk to 11 p.m.
Have the flying objects spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research and production facility, and above newly elected President Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, but the number of reported sightings has increased dramatically since then. Drones were also spotted in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region.
The FBI, Federal Aviation Administration, and other state and federal agencies involved in the investigation have not confirmed any of the reported sightings with electronic detection, and reviews of available imagery appear to show that many of the reported drones were actually manned are airplanes. They also say there have been no confirmed sightings in restricted airspace. It is also possible that a single drone was seen and reported more than once, officials said.
Some federal lawmakers have called on the military to “take down” the drones. The drones also appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio, according to a state lawmaker briefed by the Department of Homeland Security.
In one case, a medevac helicopter was unable to pick up a seriously injured car crash victim in Branchburg Township in Somerset County late last month because drones hovered near the planned landing zone. according to NJ.com. The FAA said Thursday that it has no report on this incident.
Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but are subject to local and FAA regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.
Witnesses say the drones they think they saw in New Jersey appear to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists.