Numerous reports of unidentified drones hovering over various counties in New Jersey have sparked curiosity and concern among residents, prompting an investigation by the FBI. Initially sighted over Morris County in mid-November, these drone appearances have become a regular occurrence across the state, including central counties like Monmouth, Ocean, and Hunterdon, as well as southern counties like Camden and Burlington.
Bill Spadea, a radio host and gubernatorial candidate in New Jersey, suspects the drone activity may be related to military exercises and has called for greater transparency. During an appearance on "Fox & Friends Weekend," he stated, "I just wish they would come out and say ‘Here’s what we're doing.’ When I'm elected governor, we're not gonna have this secrecy coming from the state house. We're gonna have total transparency because it's clear someone knows what's happening."
Spadea, who hosts a program on New Jersey's 101.5 talk radio, explained that he initially learned about the drone sightings from a friend who contacted his show a few weeks ago. Since then, his station has been inundated with calls from listeners reporting similar observations. According to Spadea, the drone phenomenon has dominated his show for the past week and a half, with callers describing some of the drones as being "the size of cars."
State authorities have acknowledged the seriousness of these reports, and Governor Phil Murphy recently posted on X (formerly Twitter) that there is currently no known threat to the public. The FBI is currently leading the investigation into the drone activity, but they have not yet released any official statements.
Reports indicate that the drones have been seen flying in groups and appearing nightly in certain areas. The sightings have also extended beyond New Jersey, with recent reports emerging from Staten Island, New York. Borough President Vito Fossella expressed his concern in a letter to the FBI and FAA, stating, "We have recently been made aware of large, military-style drones flying over parts of New Jersey during the past few weeks. It has also come to our attention from concerned residents and within the media that these drones have now been flying over Staten Island during the past few days."
