‘We Know Nothing’: State, Local Officials Demand Answers About Mystery Drones

Potentially thousands of sightings of large, unidentified drones are baffling local, state, and federal investigators.

Friday, December 13, 2024 at 04:30 PM ET

Verified

White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby addresses reports of unidentified drones in New Jersey during a press briefing on Thursday. [Courtesy: C-SPAN]

Key Takeaways:

Thousands of mysterious drones reported across New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania are causing significant concern and frustration among state and local officials due to a perceived lack of clear answers from federal authorities.
While the DHS and FBI are investigating over 3,000 sightings, they currently state there is no evidence of a national security threat and suggest many reports might be misidentified manned aircraft.
However, eyewitness accounts and local officials describe the drones as large, coordinated, untraceable, flying with lights off, and causing operational issues such as hindering medical evacuations and entering military airspace.
State and local leaders are urgently demanding greater federal intervention, including military action, to address the situation, noting that only federal agencies possess the legal authority to act against rogue drones.

See a mistake? Contact us.

Potentially thousands of mysterious drones have been reported in U.S. airspace, and state and local officials are demanding answers.

New Jersey officials—including more than 500 mayors and other state and local lawmakers—were briefed on the drones by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) during a meeting at New Jersey State Police headquarters on Wednesday. Many said they left the briefing frustrated, confused, and with more questions than answers. Several called for the military to intervene. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy did not join the meeting, attendees said.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.