New Jersey’s skies are under siege by mysterious drones that easily outmaneuver law enforcement, leaving officials and residents demanding answers and action.
And now, some experts believe that they may be coming from the ocean.
At a Glance
- Ocean County Sheriff’s sophisticated drone was easily evaded by mysterious drones
- Swarms of up to 50 drones reported “coming off the ocean”
- FBI, Coast Guard, and state police involved, but source remains unknown
- Officials and public frustrated by lack of transparency from federal agencies
- Calls for military intervention and state of emergency growing
Mysterious Drones Outpace Law Enforcement
As New Jersey faces a swarm of nightly drones appearing in the skies, some local authorities are doing all they can to determine where they are coming from – but so far, they’ve had no luck. Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy’s attempt to track unidentified drones over New Jersey waters ended in failure. The sheriff’s high-tech drone was no match for the mysterious aircraft, which easily evaded pursuit. These unidentified drones, some boasting wingspans of eight feet, have been spotted in alarming numbers across the state’s coastline.
The situation has escalated to the point where one of Mastronardy’s officers reported witnessing a swarm of 50 drones “coming off the ocean.” Even more concerning, when the Coast Guard was alerted and dispatched a boat to investigate, they reported 13 drones following their vessel. These aren’t your average hobby drones; they’re described as fixed-wing aircraft with multiple lights, capable of speeds up to 60 mph – far outpacing the sheriff’s drones, which top out at 40 mph.
New Jersey Sheriff Sent Department Drone To Investigate Mystery Drones | Click to read more 👇 https://t.co/07C1TYbIgE
— TMZ (@TMZ) December 14, 2024
While local law enforcement and residents are rightfully concerned, federal agencies seem to be dragging their feet. The Pentagon has stated that the drones are not controlled by the U.S. military and are not believed to be foreign-controlled. However, they’ve failed to specify who is behind these mysterious flights. The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have gone a step further, claiming there’s no evidence of a national security threat or foreign connection.
“We contacted state police, we contacted the FBI, we contacted the Coast Guard, at which point the Coast Guard went out with their boat, and they reported seeing 13 following their boat,” Mastronardy told NewsNation on Friday.
This apparent lack of urgency from federal agencies has local officials up in arms. Middletown Mayor Tony Perry expressed his frustration, highlighting the inadequacy of the information provided by federal authorities. The disconnect between local concerns and federal response is growing wider by the day, leaving New Jersey residents feeling vulnerable and unprotected.
Growing Calls for Action and Transparency
As the mystery deepens, calls for decisive action are mounting. New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia and other officials are pushing for military intervention and even a state of emergency declaration. State Sen. Jon Bramnick and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden have gone as far as advocating for a ban on all drone flights until more information becomes available.
The situation has caught the attention of higher-level officials, with Sen. Cory Booker and State Rep. Chris Smith urging for transparency and immediate action. Even President-elect Donald Trump has weighed in, questioning the government’s awareness and suggesting more drastic measures, such as shooting down the drones if necessary.
If these drones are indeed coming from the ocean, the question now is why the U.S. military has not been able to intercept them. If they’re just regular drones and don’t pose a threat, as the Pentagon says, then why can’t they catch them?
