Unexplained aerial activity in New Jersey is raising concerns among residents and authorities, as mysterious drones continue to appear near sensitive military installations. Michael B., a podcaster and drone operator behind Terror Talk Productions, reported losing control of his drone while attempting to approach a larger, unidentified flying object over restricted airspace near Picatinny Arsenal, a critical Army facility. According to Michael B., his drone lost power and descended rapidly, while the unidentified object he sought to investigate continued to hover undisturbed.
"There was a drone just hanging out," he told Fox 5 New York. "I had full battery life. Not three minutes into the flight, I lost control of the drone. The battery died, and the drone started going down." While such restricted airspace typically uses GPS technology to block unauthorized drones, the unidentified aircraft appeared unaffected, compounding the mystery.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has implemented temporary flight restrictions over Picatinny Arsenal and other key sites, including Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster. The agency has confirmed it is investigating the sightings and warned that unauthorized drone activity could result in fines of up to $75,000 or criminal charges. An FAA spokesperson emphasized that it takes all reports of unauthorized drone operations seriously and works closely with law enforcement to address violations.
New Jersey has seen a surge in drone activity since mid-November, prompting over 5,000 complaints to federal authorities. The FBI is investigating 100 cases it deems credible, though a Department of Homeland Security official noted that many sightings appear to be misidentified manned aircraft. White House national security communications adviser John Kirby echoed this sentiment, stating, "Upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully." However, he acknowledged that some incidents remain unexplained.
Michael B. described his frustration with the unexplained phenomena, noting the lack of transparency surrounding the issue. "At this point, I think that someone knows what they are," he said. Despite advanced radar and detection systems, he noted that many of the objects remain undetected on standard radar systems, adding to the enigma.
The situation has sparked concern among lawmakers. State Sen. Joe Pennacchio wrote to President-elect Donald Trump, urging federal agencies to prioritize an investigation into the sightings. "Without these answers, we have no idea whether the citizens of our state are safe," Pennacchio wrote. He criticized the lack of clarity from federal authorities nearly a month after the initial reports.
The implications of these sightings extend beyond New Jersey. Similar incidents have been reported near other military installations and critical infrastructure across the United States. In California, a Chinese national was recently charged with using a hacked drone to photograph Vandenberg Space Force Base. Meanwhile, unidentified drone activity has also been reported overseas, including at British air bases used by the U.S. Air Force.
Former CIA operations officer Laura Ballman suggested that the unexplained drones could be part of a classified test of advanced detection or evasion technology. However, the lack of public information has fueled speculation. Michael B. expressed skepticism that increased FAA restrictions would deter the mysterious aircraft, given their apparent ability to bypass existing measures.
