Mysterious East Coast Drone Sightings Raise Concerns

What Happened?

Key lawmakers on Capitol Hill are demanding answers from top federal officials amid the mysterious sightings along the U.S. East Coast.

Officials say there have been multiple instances of drones entering the airspace at a Navy weapons station in New Jersey, according to reports.

So far, residents have reported spotting drones in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for weeks, despite White House spokesman John Kirby and the White House downplaying any security or privacy threats.

Kirby, the White House spokesman on national security matters, told reporters during a briefing that governing law enforcement agencies like the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, 'have not been able to corroborate any of the reported visual sightings.'

However, upon reviewing images of the sightings, officials have concluded that 'these are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully.'

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) reportedly said Thursday he expects to receive a classified briefing soon about the mysterious sightings.

Many lawmakers like U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) say more answers are needed, considering how the sightings have led to growing concerns.

In a letter led by Senator Booker alongside Democratic colleagues Andy Kim of New Jersey and Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, that concern was expressed directly to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Federal Aviation Administration head Michael Whitaker.

Senator Booker wrote:

'I recognize the need to maintain operational security of ongoing investigations and that this situation requires complex interagency coordination. However, there is a growing sense of uncertainty and urgency across the state—from constituents and local officials alike—despite assurances that the drones pose no known threats to public safety.'

He adds that without transparency, rumors, fear, and even misinformation could continue to spread.

Why it Matters

The U.S. has had its recent fair share of unknown flying objects that caught the attention of the masses.

A Chinese spy balloon caught the attention of the nation last year that maneuvered across the United States before it was shot down off the coast of South Carolina.

Hundreds of new reports of unidentified and unexplained aerial phenomena were also revealed in the Pentagon's latest report on UFOs, although no indications suggested an extraterrestrial origin.

In December 2023, the Pentagon confirmed that Langley Air Force Base in Virginia 'experienced incursions of unauthorized unmanned aerial systems (UAS)' which violated the base’s airspace for 17 days, first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew expressed these concerns in a social media post and stated, 'First, a Chinese spy balloon drifted across U.S. airspace for a week. Now, unidentified drones are flying over New Jersey, avoiding radar detection. Gaps in our airspace are being exploited, and because of it, the safety of Americans is at risk.'

How it Affects You

Amid the increase in drone sightings being spotted publicly, it begs the question: shouldn’t government be doing more and acting more quickly, in what should be a clear breach of national security?

If the government is responsible for anything, it’s to maintain order and address major security threats.

Based on recent history and actions (or lack of it) the government has come up short.