On Wednesday, Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia shared an update on the mysterious New Jersey drones and the recent sightings in the area. Fantasia revealed crucial notes from a legislators’ briefing in a post on X (formerly Twitter), describing the “potentially nefarious” drones and the series of sightings over the past couple of weeks.
The post confirmed that these devices fly without lights, making it difficult for authorities to detect them. Moreover, they are quite large, measuring up to 6 feet in diameter. The representative also exclaimed that they “know nothing” about the drones and said it would be “incredibly misleading” to deduce that they don’t pose a threat to the community.
Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia shares concerning update about NJ’s mystery drones
The latest update on the “unexplained” New Jersey drones is quite concerning, according to an Assemblywoman of the state. Dawn Fantasia shared in the post that the sightings began in November and occurred every night for a period of six to seven hours. However, witnesses confirmed seeing the devices only after dusk as they flew with the lights turned off, making them even more difficult to detect. Reports of these sightings varied every night, ranging from 4 to 180 as they hovered in “a coordinated manner.”
Fantasia stated that the devices are not “hobbyist drones or related to DHS” and seemingly “avoid detection by traditional methods.” The traditional methods include helicopters and radio frequencies, among other techniques. Furthermore, the Republican raised key concerns such as the origin of these New Jersey drones as officials remain unsure where they “take off or land.” Other distressing factors also question the “capabilities” of these aircraft as they fly for “extended periods (6–7 hours)” and cover vast “distances of 15 miles.”
The update concerning the New Jersey drones also noted that the FBI and New Jersey State Police are actively involved in the investigation. In the meantime, the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness provides “training and situational awareness” while the U.S. Coast Guard determines “steps under their jurisdiction.” Moreover, Dawn Fantasia noted that officials have yet to confirm if these devices pose any potential threats. The next steps in the investigation will include enhanced surveillance with a special focus on legislation and policy as well as public engagement.
AP News reported that the drone sightings have increased in recent days, pointing out that officials believe many of these may have been planes. Law enforcement officers and Governor Phil Murphy also emphasized that these aircraft have not yet threatened public safety.
