Government agencies issued a joint statement Monday regarding the ongoing investigation into the mysterious drone sightings reported across the country, primarily in New Jersey and the Mid-Atlantic region, over the past few weeks.
In the statement written by the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Defense, the agencies said that while they “acknowledge the concern,” there is no evidence that the drones are “anomalous” or a threat to national security or public safety.
The FBI has received more than 5,000 reports of alleged drone sightings in “the last few weeks,” generating approximately 100 leads, according to the statement.
Advanced detection technology and trained visual observers were sent to northeastern states to assist state and local authorities in the investigation.
The four agencies said the drone sightings reported in New Jersey (pictured above) and other states across the country do not pose a risk to national security or public safety. (Nicolas Lordi)
“After closely examining technical data and advice from concerned citizens, we assess that sightings to date include a mix of legal commercial drones, hobby drones, and police drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars. wrongly reported as drones,” he said.
Although the agencies said they have not found any risks during their investigation so far, they have urged Congress will enact legislation when it returns, that would “expand and expand existing anti-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threats that may arise.”
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Agencies did briefly address drone sightings over military installations in New Jersey and elsewhere, including within restricted airspace, but said they are “not new.”
A map indicating recent drone sightings in Monmouth County, New Jersey, which is home to Naval Weapons Station Earle. (Courtesy: Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office)
“The Department of Defense takes unauthorized access to its airspace seriously and coordinates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities as appropriate,” the statement said. “Local commanders are actively involved to ensure appropriate detection and mitigation measures are in place.”
Michael Shellenberger, founder of Public News responded to the statement about X, criticizing the Biden administration for admitting that there have been drones in restricted airspace after initially saying there were none.
“Three days ago, Biden officials emphasized, emphatically, that drones have not penetrated restricted airspace,” he wrote. “Now, the Biden administration (DHS) admits that there have been drone raids on military bases, in a nonchalant way, as if to say ‘it’s no big deal’. Sure.”
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There are more than One million legally registered drones in the US, according to the statement, and thousands of them fly “on any given day” for commercial, hobby or law enforcement purposes.
“As the technology landscape evolves, we expect that number to increase over time,” the statement said.
The DHS, FBI, FAA and Department of Defense said they will continue to support law enforcement agencies in investigating drone sightings in the future.
