Reports of mysterious drone sightings across the Northeast, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, and Connecticut, have sparked concerns among residents, lawmakers, and experts in recent weeks. The sightings, occurring mostly at night, have fueled public speculation about their origins and intentions, as well as growing anxiety despite a lack of conclusive evidence pointing to malicious activity.
The phenomenon has prompted both federal and local authorities to investigate. Officials from the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have downplayed immediate security risks while acknowledging the challenges in identifying the source of these drones.
"We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus," the FBI said in a recent statement. "The FBI, DHS, and our federal partners continue to investigate and confirm whether the reported drone flights are actually drones or are instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate sightings."
Yet, military experts and lawmakers are not convinced the issue can be so easily dismissed. Col. William Dunn, a retired Marine Corps officer and president of Strategic Resilience Group, believes the drones are domestic in origin.
"One thing I do believe, I believe the government knows the source of these drones, and I believe the source of these drones is from inside the U.S., especially the larger drones," Dunn told Fox News Digital. "It's very difficult to fly an airplane the size of a vehicle into the United States without being detected."
Dunn added that the drones, some reportedly as large as six feet in diameter, require refueling and are likely stationed somewhere within the U.S. He expressed concern that the sightings highlight vulnerabilities in U.S. defense systems.
"We are telegraphing right now that we do not know where these drones are," he said. "Our adversaries hear that, and they see that now they can take a drone and fly over [a] base and do something terrible."
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has called on the DHS to deploy advanced radar systems capable of detecting drone activity. Meanwhile, Representatives Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., and Andrew Garbarino, R-N.Y., have urged Congress to pass counter-drone legislation that would grant local law enforcement greater authority to respond to potential threats.
Despite federal assurances, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy acknowledged the public's anxiety over the unexplained aerial sightings. Speaking to reporters on Monday, Murphy urged residents to remain calm.
"First of all, I'd say calm down. There's no evidence of anything nefarious here. We never say never, but ... take a breath," Murphy said. He also noted a recent decline in sightings, which he partially attributed to weather conditions, including rain and clouds.
The governor revealed that federal agencies had deployed three advanced radar systems operated by specialized teams to monitor the situation. However, he conceded that the new systems had yet to detect significant anomalous activity.
"There may be suspicious activity out there as we stand here today, but there is little to no evidence of that right now," Murphy said. "I can't walk out that door and have somebody not stop me and say, 'Tell me what's going on with the drones.'"
Authorities have received thousands of tips regarding potential drone sightings, with the FBI reporting more than 5,000 in New Jersey alone. However, fewer than 100 have warranted further investigation. Misidentifications appear to be a key factor, with the FBI and DHS noting that many of the reported sightings were likely manned aircraft, satellites, or celestial objects such as stars.
"Misidentification often occurs when UAS [unmanned aircraft systems] are mistaken for more familiar objects such as manned aircraft, low-orbit satellites, or celestial bodies like planets and stars," the agencies said.
Some experts believe the drones may have practical surveillance applications. "My belief is they're surveilling something," Dunn said, speculating that the activity could involve detecting potential biological, chemical, or radiological threats. He also suggested the drones might be monitoring for communications linked to terrorist activities.
Meanwhile, conspiracy theories surrounding the drone sightings have gained traction. Online discussions about secret government programs, such as the infamous "Project Blue Beam," and alien invasions have proliferated in the absence of clear explanations. Murphy dismissed such theories but acknowledged their emotional pull.
"I hesitate to use mass hysteria because I think the anxiety is legitimate," Murphy said. "It's unnerving." He even admitted to glancing skyward during his own nighttime walks. "I'm looking up, and I'm trying to figure out: 'Is it a star? Is it an aircraft? What is that?'"
As federal and state agencies continue their investigations, both lawmakers and experts agree on the need for greater transparency. Raj Goyle, CEO of intelligence firm Bodhala, emphasized the importance of clarifying jurisdiction and policies around drone activity.
"The real issue is we just need more transparency and explanation from the governments involved," Goyle said. "Who has jurisdiction? Does local law enforcement? Does the FAA? Does the federal government?"
