In the US, the past 24 hours have captivated everyone’s attention with a singular issue – aside from the notorious suspect Luigi Mangione – dominating the front pages of newspapers and leading the news on American television bulletins and shows: the numerous sightings of flying objects across various states.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security reported that there is currently no indication that the observed drone sightings constitute a threat to national security or public safety, nor are they connected to foreign entities.
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas stated on ABC News on Sunday, “There is no doubt that people are observing drones.”
“I want to reassure the American public that the federal government has allocated additional resources, personnel, and technology to assist the New Jersey State Police Department in addressing the drone sightings.”
“If concerns arise or foreign involvement or criminal activity is detected, we will inform the public accordingly and take the appropriate actions,” he stated. “Currently, we have no knowledge of such issues. However, should they emerge, we will respond appropriately.”
Nevertheless, these declarations have been ineffective in halting the proliferation of conspiracy theories that have escalated recently and swept through social media with great intensity.
The situation has sparked widespread uproar and concern. Sightings of drones in residential zones and near vital infrastructure on the East Coast have intensified demands for information from federal agencies. Meanwhile, officials continue to reassure the public that there is no indication these incidents present a security risk.
“I want to assure the American people that we are addressing this,” Secretary of Homeland Security and Citizen Protection Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” noting that “we have deployed additional resources, personnel and technology to assist the New Jersey State Police in responding to drone detections.”
In New York, Governor Kathy Hochul announced the development of a “state-of-the-art drone detection system” by the federal government to aid state and federal law enforcement in their investigations.
On Saturday, she expressed concern that the situation had escalated, noting that she directed the New York State Intelligence Center last month to actively investigate drone sightings and collaborate with federal agencies on the matter.
Additionally, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has requested that the Department of Homeland Security create advanced detection systems with 360-degree technology to track and pinpoint drones.
“If there’s technology that allows a drone to reach the sky, certainly there’s the technology that can accurately detect it and tell us what’s going on,” the Senate majority leader said Sunday, stressing the need for immediate action.
In a joint statement released on Thursday, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security stated, “At this time, there are no indications that the reported drone sightings constitute a threat to national or public security, nor that they are of foreign origin.”
Even with federal assurances, local authorities persist in their demands for additional information and resources to probe the sightings. Officials in Morris County, New Jersey, have called on the federal government to deploy all available federal resources, including military assistance, to halt unauthorized drone flights over their jurisdiction and other parts of the state.
Reports of drone sightings have emerged from at least six states: New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) notes that these sightings commenced on November 18 near Morris County, New Jersey.
Paul Canitra, a Republican Representative of the New Jersey State Assembly, informed CNN that drones have been observed nightly since that date, with locals reporting overhead drones, occasionally in formations.
Apprehension increased when drones were detected near Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf course, prompting the FAA to enact temporary flight restrictions over these areas.
“Multiple incidents of unidentified drones entering airspace” were also reported over Naval Arms Base Earle, located south of Middletown.
Federal officials, probing the drone reports, briefed local authorities in private, revealing that the drones seem to operate in a coordinated pattern and are capable of remaining airborne for as long as six hours, as stated by Mike Gassali, the Mayor of Montvale, New Jersey.
The New York State Police announced on Friday that they had received “multiple reports of drones in the last 24 hours” and were conducting investigations. They clarified that, currently, there is no indication that these flights constitute a threat to public safety.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella reported that drones, primarily observed at night, have been detected flying over vital infrastructure points such as Port Liberty in New York near the Goethals Bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, and Fort Wadsworth, one of the nation’s oldest military installations.
The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) assess that most drone reports stem from “misidentification,” where citizens confuse small, legally operated aircraft for drones.
Furthermore, the increase in drone sightings recently could be attributed to “imitators” who fly their drones as the issue gains increasing media attention, as explained by former FBI Special Agent Tom Adams to CNN on Friday.
“I can tell you from my personal experience, both from operations for the FBI and from investigations into alleged drone sightings on critical infrastructure, that it was quite common to confuse planets, manned aircraft, or even low-orbit satellites with drones at night,” Adams said.
While the FBI and DHS aim to reassure the public that drone activity is likely not a threat, a Department of Defense official expressed uncertainty about the nature of the sightings.
“We don’t know if this is malicious or criminal activity. However, it is irresponsible,” the official stated, further noting: “On the military side, we are equally disturbed by the irresponsible nature of this activity.”
The Pentagon has refuted any claims that the drones are from “foreign entities” or “enemies,” in response to statements made by Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew of New Jersey. Van Drew claimed on Fox News that the drones originated from an Iranian “mothership” off the East Coast of the United States.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) states that flying a drone is permissible in many areas provided it remains under 400 feet, or approximately 122 meters. Amateur drone operators must pass a fundamental safety knowledge test and comply with straightforward regulations, like steering clear of controlled airspace near airports and other aircraft. In certain locations, including New York, obtaining a permit is necessary.
For night-time drone flights, the operator is required to possess a drone pilot’s certificate, and the drone must have appropriate lighting.
Drone sightings in U.S. skies persist without a substantial explanation from the government, leading Americans to engage in their customary practice of concocting conspiracy theories.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted the initial drone sighting occurred on November 18, near Morris County, New Jersey, with subsequent reports emerging from Virginia, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York.
The “Project Blue Beam” theory, recently resurfaced, has actually existed for decades. Proponents of this theory assert that the government plans to simulate an alien invasion to incite societal panic and enforce authoritarian controls. They contend that the recent deployment of drones signifies the commencement of this government scheme.
The theory of aliens is undoubtedly one of the most rapidly spreading ideas. Indeed, numerous videos have surfaced on YouTube, crafted with the assistance of artificial intelligence, propagating the notion that we are on the brink of an alien invasion.
Georgia’s Republican Congresswoman, Marjorie Taylor Greene, posted on Platform X on December 12:
“The Pentagon’s claim of ignorance about the drones flying over New Jersey is an insult to the American people.”
“I am convinced that the Pentagon is aware, but they are spouting nonsense. If they truly don’t know, then those officials ought to resign out of embarrassment. Thankfully, we will soon have leadership in place that will inform us about the situation,” she continued.
Greene further claimed, “The government has control over the drones and is withholding the truth from the American public. The situation is indeed dire.”
According to her, these drones are owned by the U.S. military and are utilized for combat training purposes.
New Jersey Republican Representative Jeff Van Drew stated his belief that the drones originated from an Iranian “mothership.” The former Democrat also suggested that the Pentagon is concealing the true events.
“They are not telling us the truth,” Van Drew claimed. “They are treating us as if we are fools.”
However, the Pentagon has dismissed these allegations. “There is no Iranian vessel off the coast of the United States, nor is there any so-called mothership deploying drones towards the United States,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh stated, as reported by The Daily Beast.
Regarding claims designed to prevent Trump’s return to power, a widely viewed post on X alleges that “(Drones) are tools the Biden administration, in conjunction with dark alien forces, is utilizing to create obstacles to Trump’s return to power.”
Some suggest that the US government employs drones to monitor radioactivity in anticipation of a potential “catastrophic bomb” detonation.
Simultaneously, numerous individuals contend that the unusual sightings are neither drones nor “biblical angels,” “spiritual entities,” or a mixture of the two.
The drones flying over New Jersey have become quite diverse. There are the usual UFOs, characterized by bright orbs darting at incredible speeds, and there are gadgets that seem to be products of some sort of reverse engineering:
But the presence of a huge number of more or less standard copters, Navy drones with variable geometry, and so on has also beenThe noticeable presence of numerous standard helicopters, Navy drones with variable geometry, and similar aircraft has been observed. These are not adversaries for UFOs; indeed, it is not even feasible to observe the “saucers” using such drones.
If this is the case, then the purpose of their flights must be different, and the search for concealed nuclear devices appears to be a probable task. Perhaps, something dire is being planned in the United States, a kind of terrorist attack that could eclipse all other global fears. Regarding UFOs, they are not adversaries, and it is virtually impossible to observe the “saucers” using such drones.
Drones may or may not succeed in locating their targets. In this case, if the terrorists’ device works, the consequences could have a global impact, as the Americans will undoubtedly respond.
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