A series of mysterious drone sightings in central New Jersey is raising concerns among residents and prompting officials to take action.
State and local leaders report numerous incidents of large drones flying over homes, businesses, and public spaces, alarming local communities. Federal investigators have yet to provide answers but have stated they don't believe the drones pose a public threat.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy (D) said on Monday that the drones have been seen near important places, like the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and above President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster.
"I'm hoping we'll get answers sooner than later," Murphy said. He also mentioned that there is no known threat from the drones.
The FBI's Newark Field Office and the New Jersey State Police have been looking into the reports for about a month. The Federal Aviation Administration has also placed flight restrictions on drones near Bedminster and Picatinny while the investigation continues.
Drones are legal for both personal and business use, as long as operators follow local rules and have FAA certification. Many of the drones reported are larger than the ones typically used for personal use.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-New Jersey) said the drones could be a national threat and suggested they should be shot down in a statement on Wednesday.
"The time to act on this information is now before the threat escalates any further," Van Drew said. "Whether this is a foreign adversary or even just a group of drone hobbyists, we cannot allow unidentified drones to operate freely in our airspace with no consequences."
Twenty mayors from Morris County wrote a letter to Murphy asking for a full investigation into the drones "to determine the origin, purpose and compliance with applicable regulations."
"Despite inquiries made to relevant authorities, we have yet to receive satisfactory answers about the purpose, operators, or safety protocols governing these flights," the mayors wrote.
Senator Cory Booker (D-New Jersey) wrote a letter to federal investigators asking the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the FAA to update local government officials about the situation to give "New Jerseyans peace of mind about these activities."
"The State of New Jersey should issue a limited state of emergency banning all drones until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings," Republican state Senator Jon Bramnick wrote in a statement on Tuesday.
The House Homeland Security Committee talked about the flights at a joint hearing on Tuesday, where Keith Jones, the deputy executive assistant of air and marine operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection, said federal investigators haven't been able to identify the drones yet.
