Drone sightings reported over New Jersey, now FBI involved. Here's what we know so far
Mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks, leading to an investigation involving multiple police agencies and even the Federal Bureau of Investigation in Newark.
Images and footage of the drones have circulated online, leading community members to wonder what’s going on and what authorities are doing about it.
On Tuesday afternoon, the Morris County Prosecutor's Office said there is “no known threat to public safety,” the same messaging officials have released over the past few weeks.
Reports of drone sightings have emerged from multiple counties including Morris, Somerset, Warren and Sussex counties, according to NorthJersey.com, part of the Paste BN Network.
In a joint statement on behalf of the prosecutor’s office and multiple New Jersey police agencies, the office said it realizes members of the public have concerns about the repeated drone sightings. The office is working with local sheriff’s departments, emergency management offices, police departments, the FBI in Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness partners, the statement read.
Here’s what we know so far.
When were the drones first spotted?
The Morris County Prosecutor's Office first announced the sightings in November. The office said that on Nov. 18, patrolmen from law enforcement saw the drones. At the time, the prosecutor’s office said the agencies would “coordinate, monitor, and investigate the drone activity.”
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) initially said it looked into reports and “did not find evidence of drone activity in the area.” Still, the FAA said, the agency shared information about the reports with federal security partners.
Both the FAA and FBI aware of drone activity
Since the drone sightings first began, multiple agencies have joined the investigation, including the FBI in Newark.
The FBI issued a statement Tuesday about the sightings, noting that drones have been reportedly seen flying in several areas along the 70-mile Raritan River. According to witnesses, a cluster of what appeared to be drones, as well as a possible fixed wing aircraft, was flying in the area, the FBI said.
“We have reports from the public and law enforcement dating back several weeks,” the FBI Newark said in a news release obtained by Paste BN.
The FAA said in a statement to Paste BN that federal security partners asked the agency to issue flight restrictions. The FAA published two temporary flight restrictions last month, prohibiting drones over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
“We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate,” the FAA said in its statement. “Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines up to $75,000. In addition, we can suspend or revoke drone operators’ pilot certificates.”
Local resident comments on purported drone sighting
Jonelle Ferentinos, who lives near the Boonton Reservoir in Parsippany, told the Morristown Daily Record, part of the Paste BN Network, that she had seen the drones while she was out walking her dog at night. One night, she spotted five drones. The next night they were back in her neighborhood, she said.
"It was dark, so I really couldn't see where they were coming from or going to," she told the Daily Record. "They just seemed to be flying around."
Elsewhere in New Jersey, drones prevented a medevac helicopter from picking up an injured individual after a car crash last week, a spokesperson from Raritan Valley Community College confirmed to Paste BN Wednesday evening.
According to the college, the campus is used as a landing site for helicopters from the New Jersey State Police Emergency Medical Services Responses Program (North-Star), which provides emergency transport for patients.
The Campus Safety Department works with police, fire, and medical services for "rapid traffic control in the immediate area when a helicopter needs to land," wrote Donna Stolzer, director of media relations at Raritan Valley Community College, in an email Wednesday.
According to the college, the North Branch Fire Department contacted the school at 6:40 p.m. on Nov. 26 about the incoming helicopter.
"The helicopter’s landing was aborted at 6:53 p.m. when drones were seen in the area," wrote Stolzer.
The landing zone was relocated nearby and the victim was taken to a local hospital, Sgt. Jeffrey Lebron of the New Jersey State Police confirmed to Paste BN Thursday morning.
It was not immediately clear Thursday morning if the drones at Raritan Valley Community College had any relation to the other sightings in the area.
The FBI asks that anyone who sees the drones call 1-800-225-5324 or submit tips and video footage at www.tips.fbi.gov.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on Paste BN's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.