Legislative records or announcements from New Jersey state government

New Jersey Drone Surge: Lawmakers Demand Action Amid Reports of Up to 50 Unidentified Drones

Dec 15, 2024, 03:09 PM

New Jersey Senator Andy Kim reported seeing multiple drones flying over the state at night, with some residents reporting sightings of up to 50 drones, prompting demands from lawmakers for federal authorities to investigate. Drone sightings have increased in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, leading to concern among residents and officials. Local residents have attempted to shoot down the unidentified drones, and airports have reportedly shut down runways due to the sightings. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas acknowledged the sightings, stating, "There's no question that people are seeing drones," but emphasized that there is "no evidence of foreign involvement" or a national security threat. He also stated, "With respect to the ability to incapacitate those drones, we are limited in our authorities." Mayorkas noted that a Federal Aviation Administration rule change in September 2023 now permits drones to fly at night, which could explain the increased sightings. Representative Chris Smith of New Jersey is drafting legislation to grant state police the same capabilities as the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to intercept and address unmanned drone activity. John Ferguson, CEO of Saxon Aerospace, speculated that the drones could be involved in detecting radiation or gas leaks, following reports of radiation spikes in the New York and New Jersey metro areas. He also suggested a theory involving missing nuclear warheads from Ukraine, though no official confirmation has been made. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security stated in a joint statement that there is "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus." Local officials and sheriffs in New Jersey have demanded more action from the federal government in addressing the drone sightings.