The numerous drone sightings by members of the public in East Coast states are not out of the ordinary and do not pose “a national security or public safety risk,” the FBI and three other federal agencies said in a joint statement Monday night.
The Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, the Defense Department and the FBI said commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones, as well as some crewed fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and stars, were among the objects identified from more than 5,000 tips authorities received in recent weeks. About 100 tips required further review, the agencies said.
“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 in the joint statement. “That said, we recognize the concern among many communities. We continue to support state and local authorities with advanced detection technology and support of law enforcement.”
The statement also said reports of drone sightings over military facilities “are not new.”
The Pentagon “takes unauthorized access over its airspace seriously and coordinates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as appropriate,” the statement said, adding that local commanders are “actively engaged to ensure there are appropriate detection and mitigation measures in place.”
Since at least mid-November, concerned residents have reported drones in New Jersey and elsewhere on the East Coast.
Monday’s statement echoes one in which the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said last week that they had “no evidence” at the time that the drone sightings in New Jersey posed a threat.
The joint statement Monday night also said more than a million drones are lawfully registered with the FAA.
“With the technology landscape evolving, we expect that number to increase over time,” it said.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and some members of Congress have demanded more information from federal officials amid conspiracy theories and rising public concern tied to the sightings.
At a news conference Monday in Florida, President-elect Donald Trump urged authorities to provide more information about the reports of drone sightings and said he planned to cancel a trip to his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey.
“Something strange is going on,” he said. “For some reason, they don’t want to tell the people.”
The House Intelligence Committee is scheduled to be briefed on the recent sightings Tuesday afternoon, said two sources familiar with the matter. Officials from the FBI, the CIA and the national intelligence director’s office will provide the briefing at 2 p.m. ET.
