2024 New Jersey drone sightings

2024 New Jersey drone sightings has sent New Jersey residents to turning their eyes to the skies after unidentified drones were reported in their state. On Sunday night, December 8, 2024, 49 drone sightings were observed by New Jersey residents. Not all the sightings were legitimate, said New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy who spoke after a bill signing December 9 in Princeton, New Jersey. Murphy said one of the sightings was a small plane while in other instances there were multiple reports of the same objects that night. The drones were first reported on November 18. The unidentified drones have been seen flying over Picatinny Arsenal and near former President Trump's National Golf Club, Philadelphia in Pine Hill.

Murphy said the public had nothing to fear and the incident was being investigated by the FBI.

"We understand the concern, and we are doing all we can to figure out what's going on," a spokeswoman for the FBI's Newark Field Office, which is leading the investigation, told PIX11 News. "We truly don't have much information to provide at the moment." The statement was reported by Newsweek on December 10, 2024.

Residents in the Delaware Valley in Pennsylvania have also viewed the drones, according to Maureen Rush a retired a 45 year peace officer veteran. Rush said most of the drones were commercial size drones seen flying in flocks. "My other concern is that there are multiple drone sightings. They're almost in a flock. If they were geese, they'd be in a flock, and that's what's really unnerving for people," she said.

As of December 13, 2024, sightings were reported at both Naval Weapons Station Earl south of Middletown, New Jersey and Marine Corps Camp Pendleton located in San Diego County in California. "The command is aware of recent drone activity in the surrounding communities," said Staff Sgt. Kathryn Lynch Thursday. "No military unmanned aerial systems (UAS) training or activity has occurred during the time or place in question. Lynch is a spokes person for Camp Pendleton.

Fox News reported on December 15 drones were sighted at the Nevada National Security Site and Edwards Air Force Base in the high desert of California. The Edwards AFB drone sightings occurred during an unspecified time in 2024. MSN backed up the Fox News report concerning the Nevada drone sighting which occurred in October 2024. Earlier in December drone sightings were also reported at a U.S. base Ramstein, Germany according to Fox News.

Government response to 2024 drone activity

United States Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Cory Booker and Andy Kim request briefings from Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) wanting to know what actions they are taking to work with federal and local agencies to determine the source of unmanned aerial system activity in both New Jersey and New York area. Gillibrand is known for her efforts in working with government agencies to determine security challenges in American airspace. She also created All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO) where she said on Fox News December 12, 2024, drone witnesses can file their reports.

“We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” said Senator Richard Blumenthal on December 12, 2024.

"White House National Security spokesman John Kirby said there were no reported sightings in any restricted airspace. He said the U.S. Coast Guard has not uncovered any foreign involvement from coastal vessels." Meanwhile Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the drones are not US military drones.

Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said some drone sightings were mistaken identity and some of the small craft could be bought at a convenience store. He went onto state "We have various authorities that are discreet to their particular missions. We can't just shoot a drone out of the sky." President-elect Donald Trump said he would shoot down the drones unless the government can inform the public on who is flying the drones.