Two federal agencies said Thursday that most of the drone sightings reported in New Jersey in recent weeks are actually manned aircraft that people on the ground are mistaking for mysterious unmanned aerial vehicles.
Homeland Security and the FBI said they have found no evidence that the real drones among the sightings pose a threat and said they are not being operated by a foreign power.
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,” the agencies said.
The statement came after days of intense questions from the public and lawmakers who have fretted over the appearance of the drones, saying they are larger than commonly available commercial options and have been seen trailing Coast Guard boats and buzzing sensitive areas.
The federal agencies, though, said the ground observers are mistaken.
“To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” the agencies said.
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That contradicts the assertions of high-profile lawmakers such as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, who has been telling residents the drones are “very sophisticated” and said when some come under observation they “go dark.”
But he said they did not see any threat from the aircraft.
Others have been more worried.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, New Jersey Republican, asserted this week that drones were being flown by Iran from a “mothership” stationed off the coast. On Thursday, before the new FBI and Homeland Security statement, he said China might also be a culprit.
“I’m not saying it’s definite but it’s something that needs to be explored,” he said.
On Tuesday a top FBI official, while insisting the aircraft don’t seem to pose a danger, called the sightings “concerning.”
Robert Wheeler Jr., who runs the FBI’s critical incident response group, told Congress in a hearing on drone threats that there had been more than 3,000 tips from the public.
Rep. Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican, said at the hearing that he’d visited with a sheriff and a Coast Guard commander who were both worried about the drones. The Coast Guard officer said one of his boats was trailed by more than a dozen drones at one point.
“I said what’s the rules of engagement,” the congressman related. “He said ‘We don’t know. We don’t have any.’”
But at the White House, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the Coast Guard has ruled out the notion of a foreign power flying drones toward the U.S. from the sea.
Mr. Kirby did say the government has analyzed the photos snapped by residents and not found anything to worry about.
He said if there was a threat or reason, President Biden would order action.
“If information comes to light that changes that characterization then we’ll be the first ones to let you know,” he said. “But right now, there’s just no indication that this is some sort of foreign malign activity or in fact even criminal.”
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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