By Stefan J. Bos, Chief International Correspondent Worthy News
TRENTON/NEW YORK (Worthy News) – Two Republican congressmen from New Jersey have urged the military to shoot down mysterious nighttime drones appearing above the U.S. state.
Jersey Shore-area Congressmen Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew made the appeal amid mounting concerns about the unknown flying objects since they were first spotted last month.
Smith said a Coast Guard commanding officer briefed him on an incident over the weekend in which a dozen drones followed a motorized Coast Guard lifeboat “in close pursuit” near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County.
On Wednesday, Coast Guard Luitenant Luke Pinneo confirmed that “multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the vicinity of one of our vessels near Island Beach State Park.”
According to a state lawmaker briefed Wednesday by the Department of Homeland Security, dozens of mysterious nighttime flights appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio.
In a message on the social media platform X, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia described the drones as up to 6 feet (two meters) in diameter and sometimes traveling with their lights switched off.
The Morris County Republican was among several state and local lawmakers who met with state police and U.S. Homeland Security officials to discuss the sightings, ranging from New York City through New Jersey and westward into parts of Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia.
FLYING OBJECTS
The worry stems from the flying objects initially spotted near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.
Most of the drones were seen spotted along coastal areas, and some were recently reported flying over a large reservoir in Clinton. Sightings also have been reported in neighboring states.
However, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh suggested that residents do not worry. “Our initial assessment here is that these are not drones or activities coming from a foreign entity or adversary” such as China or Russia.
Governor Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have also stressed that the drones don’t appear to threaten public safety. Yet the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has asked residents to share any videos, photos, or other information they may have.
“This is something we’re taking deadly seriously. I don’t blame people for being frustrated,” Murphy explained.
Republican Assemblyman Erik Peterson, whose district includes parts of the state where the drones have been reported, suggested his talks with police and Homeland Security didn’t lead to reassurances about the drones. “My understanding is they have no clue,” Peterson said.
James Edwards, of Succasunna, New Jersey, said he has seen a few drones flying over his neighborhood since last month. “It raises concern mainly because there’s so much that’s unknown,” Edwards told The Associated Press news agency.
“There are lots of people spouting off about various conspiracies that they believe are in play here, but that only adds fuel to the fire unnecessarily. We need to wait and see what is really happening here, not let fear of the unknown overtake us.”
Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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