New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy during an interview in New York on Nov. 22. Photo: Jeenah Moon/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Dozens of reported drone sightings over New Jersey and other northeastern states have left residents perturbed and led local officials to demand federal action. Why it matters: The sightings started last month and their origins are still unknown, although officials have said they don’t threaten public safety.
• The FBI has been investigating the sightings, which were also reported in Staten Island, New York, and Philadelphia.
• Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said he is taking the sightings “deadly seriously,” per the AP.
State of play: The U.S. military did not deploy the drones, Sabrina Singh, deputy defense press secretary, said during a news conference on Wednesday.
• “At this time, we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary,” Singh said.
• “We’re going to continue to monitor what is happening, but at no point were our installations threatened.”
• The Pentagon also shot down a claim by New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R) that the drones came from an Iranian ship off the coast of the U.S. No such “mothership” is there, Singh said.
By the numbers: Federal investigators have received more than 3,000 tips from the public, Robert Wheeler, FBI critical incident response group assistant director, said during a congressional hearing on Tuesday.
• Mayors of 21 New Jersey towns sent a letter to the governor demanding a full investigation into the drones, per ABC News.
Case in point: Reports in Evesham, New Jersey, varied from four to eight drones, per local police chief Walt Miller.
• “They weren’t like the normal drone that somebody would purchase and use in their home,” he said. “They were large — some were described as large as an SUV.”
• The drones have been reported above “critical infrastructure” including water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments and military installations, per Joseph Orlando, Florham Park Police Department chief of police.
Threat level: No known information indicates that national security or public safety are at risk, Wheeler said.
• “But we just don’t know,” he added, “and that’s the concerning part.”
Our thought bubble, from Axios’ future of defense reporter Colin Demarest: Downing drones is difficult. It’s not as simple as shooting into the sky.
• Doing so risks deadly falling debris and raises questions of local authority.
Zoom out: The White House has been coordinating with the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI to investigate the drones, per White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Go deeper: Military pauses Osprey flights again after recent near-crash