It happened over Alaska in 2023, when the U.S. military shot down a drone, believed to have come from China, over the hard ice of Prudhoe Bay, but never told the public anything further about what it had destroyed in the dead of winter. According to official statements, there was no recovery of the object or blown-apart pieces.
Now, the Biden Administration is not telling the public what it knows about the swarms of apparent drones that are spooking people by coming off the ocean and over neighborhoods in New Jersey, New York, and apparently elsewhere in the country.
Apparently, the government doesn’t know much and is not particularly concerned.
The Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a joint statement about the drones that have lit up the sky — and social media — on Thursday:
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus. The FBI, DHS and our federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings,” the statement said.
“Historically, we have experienced cases of mistaken identity, where reported drones are, in fact, manned aircraft or facilities. We are supporting local law enforcement in New Jersey with numerous detection methods but have not corroborated any of the reported visual sightings with electronic detection. To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft, operating lawfully. There are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted air space,” the agencies said.
“We take seriously the threat that can be posed by unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), which is why law enforcement and other agencies continue to support New Jersey and investigate the reports. To be clear, they have uncovered no such malicious activity or intent at this stage. While there is no known malicious activity occurring in New Jersey, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight the insufficiency of current authorities,” the agencies said.
On Sunday a swarm of a dozen drones reportedly tailed a 47-foot U.S. Coast Guard vessel and 50 other drones were sighted flying into New Jersey from the ocean.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also said he doesn’t know if the drones pose a threat to the public.
Congressman Mark Green, who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, said the drone activity must be taken seriously.
The committee’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence and Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security held a joint hearing Tuesday to examine the full scope of the homeland security threats posed by unauthorized, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones.
Keith Jones, deputy executive assistant commissioner of Customs and Border Protection’s Air and Marine Operations; Robert W. Wheeler Jr., assistant director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Critical Incident Response Group; and Brad Wiegmann, deputy assistant attorney general for national security at the Department of Justice all provided testimony.
“In the hearing, the DOJ and FBI witnesses left Congress and the American people with few answers on the mysterious sightings over New Jersey. However, it is clear that in the wrong hands, drone technology has the potential to negatively impact the essential mission of law enforcement agencies, disrupt our critical infrastructure or mass-spectator events such as NFL games, and even surveil sensitive U.S. military sites. This is especially true in the event that state and local law enforcement do not have the authorities needed to swiftly mitigate the threat. Earlier this year, the House Homeland Security, House Transportation and Infrastructure, and House Judiciary Committees introduced the bipartisan Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act of 2024, Congress’ strongest effort, to date, to build a counter-drone framework that will empower federal, state, and covered local law enforcement agencies to swiftly detect, track, and mitigate hostile drone use,” the subcommittee reported. Read more about that hearing here.
Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey today said the Biden Administration is not coming clean.
“The Biden Administration continues to be dismissive of New Jersey residents who have witnessed these drones in swarms, including coming from the ocean, following a Coast Guard lifeboat, and flying over extremely sensitive military bases like Naval Weapons Station Earle in my congressional district. Some press reports—including one from the Daily Mail—cite intelligence experts who suggest Russia could be responsible,” Smith said.
“The American people and our trained local law enforcement officials have rightfully asked for real answers—not doublespeak from top Biden officials who still admit they do not know the origin or intent behind this unidentified drone activity. The Biden Administration has an obligation to the American people to figure out and tell us what is going on immediately. Their lack of decisive action and empty reassurances will only cause increased speculation and continue to escalate the valid concerns that so many people have,” Smith said.
Given the whoppers the Guv’ment has been feeding us, why should we believe anything they say. Give it 6-months and the truth will eventually come out.
The Guv’ment will never tell the truth about anything !!
At best 1/2 truths.
Are they this incompetent??? Is it possible to be this incompetent?? Truly incredible.
Just a test. See how much you panick. Getting you prepared for the big reveal.
The way the government lies and they know we know I don’t trust anything out of our once the best government.
Proven liars they are.
There are a lot of really, really stupid people out there. People looking up at night are now studdenly seeing all sorts of things. Some of those people are elected officials. Recall the USAF wasted at least half a million dollars shooting down a balloon that belonged to, and I’m not making this up, the Northern Illinois Bottlecap Balloon Brigade. The balloon club was doing everything lawfully. And they got shot down.
New Jersey is also the place Martians landed in Oct 30, 1938. All sorts of people thought the invasion was real- and not a radio drama.
They’ve always been there if you would just look up.
Simple answer NO
Let me get this straight so these drones as big as passenger cars as many as a dozen in a group are flying in controlled airspace inside a city and no one knows who the hell they belong to or what they are doing. I call bull shit. The Biden administration couldn’t find their asses with both hands so not much surprise I guess. Old Joe is to busy turning felons out on the street to bother with some pesky drones.
The BS is larger than that.
That area of NJ is some of the busiest airspace in the US. Where are the pilot reports of stuff in the airspace? A drone the size of a vehicle will show up on RADAR, and no air traffic controllers saw any of them? No NOTAMs issued?
.
I suspect these “drones” are just aircraft on approach, and people in the area are just not used to looking up and seeing the lights of approaching aircraft. I was heading south on the NJ Turnpike once near Newark Int’l and the line of aircraft on approach looked just like what is being described. A line of lights, hovering.
.
This is a non-story.
However, it is quite possible morons who own drones have been sending them up to “check it out.”
Thank you for saying what I came to say. People are morons.
If you believe that drones the size of cars and buses are flying around New Jersey suburbs spying on residential homes, I suggest you watch too much tv “news”. Regardless what is truly going on, whether foreign spies, fanciful lies told by housewives and drunken tv watchers, or DoD contractors playing with their new toys, the end result will almost certainly be an FAA budget boosted by a $billion or so, and volumes of additional regs, licensing, and BS for guys like me with a DJI Phantom drone in his garage.
I know how stupid people can be, but this is stupidity on steroids. I suppose next we’ll here that sasquatches or aliens are piloting these UAPs.
norad Isn’t worried about it. In the military by law can’t shoot them down unless they see bombs under the wings.
The double-speak that John Kirby is using now sounds suspiciously like his wordsmithing he used for the balloon episodes. I wouldn’t trust that man with a bowel movement.
Hard to believe that clown Kirby was actually an Admiral.
SMH
It’s a sad fact there are people stupid enough to believe anything the federal government says through the corrupt and incompetent FBI.
It is clear the legacy news media carries a lot of responsibility for fraudulent and false reporting and amplifying something a crackpot claims they saw. If it promotes fear, then make up a grand story and keep repeating it until the authors actually believe it.
Why is it that when some idiot claims to see a UFO (or whatever they’re called nowadays) that, all of a sudden, idiots around the country start seeing them too?
Actually not many ideots to far ranging have seen them. The sightings in New York have been witnessed and filmed by many people as well as local law enforcement. So curious why you don’t believe them ?? I’m seeing it in 3 areas not clear across the country. Don’t forget there was a Chinese drone the airforce shot down on the north slope 2 years ago. And that was as real as the balloon incident.
“……..It’s a sad fact there are people stupid enough to believe anything the federal government says through the corrupt and incompetent FBI………”
I suppose it’s quite reasonable that there are people stupid enough to believe anything that folks tell to local tv news reporters………reportedly?
I have a daughter living in New Jersey. She happened to go over to a location away from street lights and a little darker. She just called tonight and asked if I knew of any group or organization that could tell her what she was seeing. There were huge drones everywhere in great quantities. It was pretty creepy to her and her biggest complaint was, why New Jersey? Obviously, they are either something from our own military (that they refuse to divulge information about) or enemies of some kind. There are only two choices. She was a little worried to put it mildly.
It’s a test to see how panicked we are. See if they can divulge another tidbit of ufo information without freaking people out. People say they want to know, but they couldn’t handle the truth. Couldn’t sleep at night.
Lol. Asking government haters if they hate the government is guaranteeing a predictable response. Rest easy folks. It’s our stuff.
It’s not hate of government, it is distrust of government. Huge difference chump. Don’t worry 37 days until the true big reveal begins. This is nothing more than a distraction for the outgoing administration’s mis deeds.
I’m sticking with hate.
Know who else automatically assumes people they disagree with are haters?
Yep. Leftists and children. But, sorry to repeat myself.
Dang. Which are you?
To give all the resources & tools to respond ????? Like land to air missiles ???? What about the fall out???? Local authorities to shoot things out of the air over our heads…YA right on Johnny law have at it! Liberty Ed
Where are the photos or recordings of all these drones?
Try this one. Many of the conservatives commenting here probably voted for his guy to be their ‘mayor:https://youtu.be/osRJ1dbZ5X4?si=refOa2HmKKLWK0cl
Kind of reminds me of the mass psychosis syndrome that took place during Covid! We even have a member of Congress that believes that the Iranians have a Mothership off the New Jersey coast that is releasing these drones nightly! Our military may be lacking in some of its capabilities, but I seriously doubt that a foreign warship could operate off the New Jersey coast without the Pentagon knowing about it.
I agree. I, also, believe that something else must be happening and the drones are needed to draw our attention away. Maybe there’s a flood of immigrants going into California or maybe China is shipping military into California? Or, maybe something is being is hurriedly passed in Congress? This is the “Oh Shiny!” moment.
Pro tip:
Every time there is a “big story” happening, ignore it.
Look for the story they are trying to hide.
Wow. Just…wow!
Unless you are a dedicated leftist. Then you just read the headline and assume you know the whole truth.
Langley AFB VA is a restricted airspace as well and army airfields and civilian airports so why are the saying no reports of violation or restricted air air space? And since the air space is controlled by the FAA the restricted to not flying drone and radio controlled aircraft within 5 miles of is against the law because the fear of hitting commercial aircraft.
Rep. Chris Smith, NJ, held a press conference demanding DOD take action: ‘https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/rebecca-grant-america-has-drone-problem-no-one-charge.
The Sheriff of Ocean County tried using a drone to track A mystery drone only for the drone to disappear: ‘https://nypost.com/2024/12/14/us-news/nj-county-sheriff-sends-own-drone-up-to-follow-mystery-flying-objects/.
I’m saying it here:
If a drone like that hovers over my house- or any drone- I am shooting it down.
Come claim it. Come arrest me. Charge me.
I will gladly test the FAA’s stance in front of a jury of my peers. Remember… if I prevail in Federal Court with jury nullification, that is the law of the land. Anyone could then shoot down drones.
Bring it.
You’ll be in gitmo.
No, no they will not. The fact that you even state that shows how much power you think the FAA has. And that is funny.
Yes they will. Just like if you shoot some dog that comes in and p***** in your yard, you’ll go to jail for that too.
What’s funny is you and others think you can violate federal law and shoot down an aircraft. That will get you serious time. You can’t take the law into your own hands. That’s just some kind of stupid.
Wow. So many people on here in love with Big Fed and completely trusting of anything the government tells them. I’m just bummed I still have my Chinese weather balloon decorations up. Did you forget about that? Or the ChiCom aircraft shot down by Prudhoe? Or is all that an inconvenient truth? You can study history or you can trust government, but no sane person can do both. The truth will come out eventually
Or you can face reality and realize you are powerless.
When government tells you don’t worry – worry!
Why is this Biden’s fault? Trump keeps saying the feds need to stay out of things and let all the states deal with their own issues. So which is it people? You want the state rights or not?
We have a flippin’ NORAD squadron on Elmendorf monitoring airspace 24/7/365. If there was a security threat it would be handled.
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