In a statement addressing the recent surge of drone sightings along the US East Coast, President Joe Biden asserted that these events are “nothing nefarious.” The drone sightings, reported in New Jersey and surrounding states, have sparked conspiracy theories regarding potential foreign involvement.
Authorities have clarified that not all reported sightings involve drones and confirmed that there is no current indication of threats to national security. There is no belief that any foreign powers are behind these incidents.
In a closed-door briefing, members of the US House Intelligence Committee echoed Biden’s sentiments, seeking to reassure the public regarding the matter.
Among the committee members, a Democratic representative stated that, so far, investigations have not shown any evidence of foreign influence or activity threatening American citizens.
Another representative emphasized that there is “zero evidence of laws being broken” and noted that the majority of sightings turned out to be ordinary aircraft or legally operated drones.
As of now, millions of unregistered drones operate across the US alongside 800,000 registered drones weighing over half a pound.
Biden remarked, “We’re following this closely, but so far, no sense of danger,” asserting that the sightings did not indicate any wrongdoing. He suggested a trend where one drone might have sparked a wave of interest among other operators.
Recently, these sightings resulted in the temporary closure of Stewart International Airport in New York and Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Government agencies have previously stated that they have “not identified anything anomalous” and supported Biden’s assertion that many sightings involved hobbyist drones or law enforcement activity. There have also been reports of other types of aircraft mistakenly identified as drones.
However, public curiosity persists. A New Jersey resident recounted seeing an object in the sky resembling a school bus, rectangular in shape with blinking lights—something he described as “definitely something I’ve never seen.”
A local police officer expressed the need for clear answers to alleviate public anxiety surrounding the ongoing drone sightings. In light of the continuing mystery, state governments are advocating for enhanced authority to manage uncrewed aircraft in their airspace. New York’s Governor announced plans to implement a drone detection system.
Voices of suspicion have emerged, including one from President-elect Donald Trump, who remarked that the government might be withholding information about the sightings but does not believe it to be the work of an enemy.
The Pentagon refuted claims from a New Jersey lawmaker suggesting drone connections to an Iranian “mothership.” An FBI official admitted to a possible “slight overreaction” regarding the drone phenomena.
