The White House and FBI say a series of mysterious drones deployed in New Jersey may actually be manned aircraft and “inaccurate observations.”
The fresh details emerged in an official statement from the agency and during a Thursday news conference with national security communications adviser John Kirby, who: he said The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are working with state and local law enforcement to investigate the raise in reported drone sightings.
At a news conference, Kirby said some of the mystery drones were actually “legally operated” manned vehicles and while unnerving, did not pose a safety threat.
But some officials in New Jersey and Pennsylvania aren’t buying it and are demanding more transparency as the sightings continue. on Friday, Governor Phil Murphy wrote a letter to President Joe Bidenexpressing “growing concern” about drones and asking for federal assistance “to fully understand what is behind this activity” because state and local agencies are “limited…in effectively countering them.”
Earlier this week, the Department of Homeland Security informed New Jersey legislators about drone sightings in the Garden State, but officials did not suggest there were crew on the plane, according to Republican New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia.
» READ MORE: Department of Homeland Security and New Jersey State Police hold briefing on mystery drone updates
According to Fantazja write to XNew Jersey lawmakers were told that since mid-November, between four and 180 drone sightings were observed each night (sometimes with potential repeated sightings of the same drone). The agency said the drones are unmanned and hard to detect because they sometimes operate without lighting, the assemblywoman said.
Kirby reiterated Thursday that drones have been hard to detect, even with a combination of federal technology and intelligence, but also said that “many reported sightings” are manned and operate legally.
In joint statement On Thursday, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security said these fresh details were based on a review of available photos of the plane, adding that in the past the agencies have seen “instances of misidentification where reported drones were actually manned aircraft…”
“We are supporting local law enforcement in New Jersey with numerous detection methods, but we have not confirmed any of the reported visual sightings through electronic detection,” the statement said, adding that “no drone sightings have been reported or confirmed in any restricted airspace.” “
“This is ridiculous,” said Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris he said ABC News invites the national security spokesman to join him for the night and count the planes over his North Jersey town. “You look up at the sky and you see them, and some of them are just floating in the air and sitting there.”
» READ MORE: Mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey are spreading to Philadelphia’s suburbs, raising more questions
“People deserve answers.”
Frustration is growing across the region as residents and lawmakers seek answers about the mysterious drones.
Earlier this week, US Republican Jeff Van Drew (New Jersey) called for shooting down drones, which is illegal and something the Federal Aviation Administration has warned against. Van Drew too sent a letter to Biden, citing unconfirmed reports that foreign adversaries are behind the drones – claims repeatedly denied by multiple agencies, including the White House.
“At this time, we have no evidence that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety or have foreign ties,” Kirby told reporters. Still, Kirby said there is no new information and investigators are working “to better understand its origins.”
U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, a Republican representing Bucks County, wrote: letter to federal agencies for answers and action.
As tensions rise, drone sightings have become the latest topic of conversation among candidates in the New Jersey governor’s race.
Two North Jersey Democrats — U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer and Mikie Sherrill — have written letters to federal agencies calling for greater public transparency.
IN Sherrill, a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot, said in a letter to the Department of Defense is “deeply concerned” about drones spotted near “sensitive national security sites.” Gottheimer he said on Tuesday that he plans to introduce a bill to expand federal grants “to assist raise the availability of radar systems” for local law enforcement agencies.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Bill Spadea used drone control as an opportunity to release new merchandise and raise money for his campaign, offering donors lawn signs with a drone-focused goal to “make your yard part of the defense.”
On Thursday, U.S. Sen. Andy Kim (R-NJ) joined Clinton Township law enforcement on a nightly patrol in Hunterdon County to see drone sightings with your own eyessaying he witnessed “dozens” of drones flying over the county over a two-hour period. Kim too signed the letter with other lawmakers requesting a briefing on federal agencies’ work to identify and address the source of drones.
“It’s demanding for people to feel protected when unexplained drones fly overhead and a federal investigation prevents them from getting the answers they need,” Kim said in a statement.
“People deserve answers,” Kim said. “We don’t need conspiracy theories or assumptions, we need assurances that those responsible for keeping us safe know about this issue, and communication so people feel that their government takes this issue seriously.”
