US Government Says Drones are ‘Lawful’ Aircraft, Stars

The evening sky and points of light near in Lebanon Township, N.J., on Dec. 5, 2024. Trisha Bushey via AP

The mysterious flying objects spotted in New Jersey and other states are in some cases drones and in others fixed-wing aircraft or stars, the U.S. Department of Defense and other government agencies said on Dec. 16.

“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,” the Pentagon, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, and the Federal Aviation Administration said in a joint statement on the social media platform X.

The FBI has received more than 5,000 reported drone sighting tips in recent weeks, the agencies said. The tips have resulted in 100 leads. The federal government is helping state and local officials to investigate the leads and using “advanced detection technology” and “trained visual observers.”

“We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast,” the agencies said.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security told The Epoch Times earlier in the month that there was no evidence showing the drone sightings posed a national security or public safety threat or had a foreign nexus.

Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesperson, told reporters in a briefing on Monday that there was no sign the drones are being controlled by a foreign country.

Flying drones in the United States is typically legal, provided the drones are below 400 feet, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

The sightings of the mysterious objects began in November in New Jersey. Drones have since been spotted in multiple other states, including New York and Maryland.

The sightings have led to temporary closures at airports and the airspace at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, prompting calls for answers.

“When you hear hundreds of reports of drones flying above us, or see activity yourself, and federal agencies responsible for controlling the air space don’t properly and quickly brief the public, then it leaves a large vacuum of information,” Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) told a recent briefing.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said on Dec. 15 that federal authorities were sending a cutting-edge drone detection system to her state. The equipment has also been sent to New Jersey.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy told reporters on Dec. 16 that there was “little to no suspicious activity” in the state.

Federal officials said in the new statement that they recognize that people across the country are concerned about the rise in reports of flying objects and urged Congress to enact legislation restricting unmanned aircraft systems, or drones. They also highlighted how some of the drones have been spotted near military facilities and said Pentagon officials are working with law enforcement agencies to respond to those sightings.

The Department of Homeland Security previously said there was an active federal investigation into the drone sightings, and that the FBI was leading the probe. The agency has said that people who observe suspicious drone behavior should provide tips to state law enforcement.

President-elect Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the government knows what’s happening with the flying objects and that officials should be transparent. “They know where it came from and where it went. But for some reason they don’t want to comment, and I think they would be better off saying what it is,” he said.

Trump has also called for the drones to be shot down.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said over the weekend that federal officials have limited authority to shoot down drones. Mayorkas said that that authority could be broadened by Congress and that officials do take action when restricted airspace is involved, referencing a recent incident in which a Chinese national flew a drone near an air base in California.

“When a drone is flown over restricted air space, we act very, very swiftly,” Mayorkas said. “And, in fact, when an individual in California flew a drone over restricted air space, that individual was identified, apprehended, and is being charged by federal authorities. And so we act as swiftly as possible when an individual does fly a drone over restricted air space and violates the rules.”

Jack Phillips contributed to this report.