What you need to know about drones spotted off the coast of New Jersey

Over the last few weeks, over a dozen large drones, some the size of an SUV, have been spotted across New Jersey and, in some cases, near military installations, sparking alarm, particularly on right-wing news media.

New Jersey Govenor Phil Murphy has attempted to reassure the public that there is no indication that the drones are a threat, although their sightings might make residents feel uneasy. As of Monday, 49 sightings had been reported, but the Governor noted that some of these might be the same drone and that the total number of aerial objects could be lower.

On Tuesday, Cory Booker, the senior Senator from the Garden State, called on the FBI to release information that has been gathered during the investigation to ease the public’s worries. “It is our shared obligation to ensure that our airspace is safe and secure, and I am committed to giving New Jerseyans peace of mind about these activities,” wrote the Senator.

Since making the request, neither the FBI nor other agencies involved in the investigation have made any additional comments, leaving the door open for speculation that will only create more concern among the state’s residents and the national public.

New Jersey Congressman claims the drones were launched by an Iranian mothership

In an interview on Fox News on Wednesday, New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew said that he has evidence that the drones were sent by an Iranian “mothership” and that the ship was sitting “off the East Coast of the United States of America.”

The Congressman cited “very high level” contacts within the government, but did not provide any additional proof that these drones were of Iranian origin. Van Drew also rejected the theory that the drones were US government property, arguing that if that were the case, officials would have informed the public and Congress.

The response from the Department of Defense

When Sabrina Singh, the DoD’s spokesperson was asked about these drones, she said that her agency was aware of the drones but had no evidence that “these activities are coming from a foreign entity or adversary.” She also confirmed that the drones do not belong to the US military and that local law enforcement is investigating their origin.

The investigations by local authorities remain ongoing and are being supported by the Department of Homeland Security. When pressed on Congressman Van Drew’s allegations that the drones were being sent by an Iranian “mothership,” Singh responded that there was no truth to the claims.

The situation is similar to the rumors that circulated when a Chinese weather balloon entered US airspace after suffering a technical failure. The episode prompted speculation that the defunct balloon was actually being used for espionage.

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