releases: https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413454
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413454 | AP / ABC News article on Smith, other officials' concerns:'What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?' | 2024-12-12 | 2024 | 2024-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI -Associated Press- -- A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern over who sent them and why. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith said a Coast Guard commanding officer told him a dozen drones closely followed a Coast Guard lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County over the weekend. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft. Gov. Murphy has said the aircraft do not pose a threat, but has not provided any details to support this. The FBI is among several agencies investigating, and it has asked residents to share videos, photos and other information they may have about the drones. Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing drones in New Jersey starting in November. At first, the drones were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, a waterway that feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, the state's largest aquifer, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of New York City. The aircraft have also recently been spotted in coastal areas. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security, said the reported drones have been up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes travel with their lights switched off. This is much larger than those typically flown by drone hobbyists and she said they appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio. Officials and experts say some witnesses may actually be seeing planes or helicopters rather than drones, or perhaps are confused about the size of the devices they're seeing. “There are certainly big drones, such as a agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said Thursday. The organization with about 350 members, is headquartered in Pittston, Pennsylvania. “I wonder a little bit if it’s sort of a type of fish story, as in ‘I caught a fish this big!’ type of a thing,” Deusler added. “At night, it’s hard to see how big the drones are, especially because they can be either closer or further away from you. To get that perspective of how big they are is really difficult.” Authorities say they do not know who is behind the drones. The FBI, Homeland Security and state police are investigating the sightings. Authorities say they don’t know if it is one drone that has been spotted many times or if there are multiple aircraft being flown in a coordinated effort. Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, Smith and U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot down the drones, citing safety concerns. The Pentagon insists the drones do not represent a threat from abroad. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that the military’s initial assessment after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council — that the drones are not of foreign origin — remains unchanged. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the aircraft are not U.S. military drones. Operators must be FAA certified. Sightings also have been reported in neighboring New York and Pennsylvania. Drones were also spotted last month in the U.K. The U.S. Air Force said several small unmanned aircraft were detected near four military bases in England that are used by American forces. ___ Associated Press reporters Tara Copp in Washington, D.C., and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed. The above excerpted text was contained in an article published on Dec. 12. 2024, and from which was removed advertising graphics and links . It can be found in its original order and form at: What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey? - ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mysterious-drones-reported-flying-new-jersey-116727996 | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-07T22:13:55Z |