A wave of unexplained drone activity has gripped the northeastern United States, prompting federal investigations and growing public concern.
According to Daily Mail, over 5,000 drone sightings have been reported since mid-November, with approximately 100 leads currently being investigated by federal authorities.
The sightings began near sensitive locations in New Jersey, including the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal and President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster. State and local officials are now demanding answers as reports spread across multiple states, including New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.
The situation has escalated to the point where civilians are taking matters into their own hands, leading to dangerous incidents. Several pilots have reported being hit by laser beams from people attempting to identify suspected drones, prompting stern warnings from the FBI's Newark office.
FBI acting special agent-in-charge Nelson Delgado addressed these concerns as he stated:
We're seeing an increase in pilots of manned aircraft being hit in the eyes with lasers, because people on the ground think they see a drone. We are also concerned that people will take matters into their own hands and fire a weapon at an aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed multiple laser incidents, attributing them to citizens attempting to investigate the mysterious aerial phenomena themselves.
US Coast Guard licensed captain Paul Sprieser, 56, has become one of the key witnesses documenting these events. His detailed accounts include observations of objects hovering at unusual heights and displaying atypical flight patterns.
Sprieser witnessed an "orange orb" on December 7 near his North Bergen home, followed by another sighting on December 13 in Morris County. He noted that the objects exhibited behavior inconsistent with conventional aircraft, including rapid altitude changes and unusual lighting patterns.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, FBI, FAA, and Department of Defense, maintain that the sightings can be explained by a combination of commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones, along with conventional aircraft and celestial objects.
State officials have expressed frustration with the federal government's handling of the situation. New York Governor Kathy Hochul has called for expanded powers to address the drone activity directly, while New Jersey Representative Chris Smith has advocated for military intervention.
Michael Shellenberger, a journalist following the story, revealed that local mayors have voiced strong concerns during a White House drone briefing. The meeting reportedly included frustrated officials demanding better explanations for the phenomena. Various theories about the source of these drones range from mass hysteria to foreign espionage, with some even suggesting extraterrestrial origins or covert military operations.
The mysterious drone activity that began in mid-November near sensitive locations in New Jersey has evolved into a complex investigation involving multiple federal agencies and state authorities. While federal officials maintain that the sightings can be explained by conventional aerial activities, eyewitnesses and local officials continue to challenge these explanations.
As investigations continue, authorities are focused on preventing dangerous civilian responses while working to identify the source of these unexplained aerial phenomena. The situation has highlighted the growing tensions between federal and state authorities over jurisdiction and response capabilities in addressing unconventional aerial threats.
