Mystery Drone Sightings Spark Outrage as Officials Struggle for Answers
Photo by Matthew Modoono/Northeastern University
Reports of mysterious drone sightings lighting up the skies over New Jersey and the Eastern Seaboard have sparked both public concern and fiery debate among officials, with some calling for immediate action and accusing authorities of hiding the truth.
The drone encounters—most occurring at night—have alarmed residents and even led to disruptions, such as the temporary shutdown of runways at New York Stewart International Airport last Friday. With over 3,000 tips received by the FBI regarding these sightings, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas offered a possible explanation.
“In September of 2023, the Federal Aviation Administration, the FAA, changed the rules so that drones could fly at night,” Mayorkas said during an appearance on ABC’s This Week. “That may be one of the reasons why now people are seeing more drones than they did before, especially from dawn to dusk.”
Mayorkas stressed that the federal government has “no evidence” linking the drone sightings to foreign entities or national security threats. “I want to assure the American public that we in the federal government have deployed additional resources, personnel, [and] technology to assist the New Jersey State Police in addressing the drone sightings,” he said.
Despite these reassurances, frustration and suspicion are spreading. New Jersey Assemblyman Erik Peterson voiced skepticism, accusing federal officials of dishonesty. “They’re lying to us. First, they say you’re not seeing what you’re seeing… And then they tell us that they don’t know what it is,” Peterson told CNN. “It’s all a lie.”
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has taken action, urging Mayorkas to deploy advanced “drone-detecting systems” in New York and New Jersey. Schumer highlighted the importance of using technology with 360-degree detection capabilities to address the rising concerns.
The situation has also sparked wild conspiracy theories online. Some accuse the government of controlling the drones and hiding the truth. Others, like Marjorie Taylor Greene, echoed these suspicions, writing on X that officials “refuse to tell the American people what is going on.”
Adding fuel to the fire, Donald Trump entered the debate, suggesting drastic action. On Truth Social, he wrote: “Mystery drone sightings all over the country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!”
While Mayorkas emphasized his inability to order drones out of the sky under current laws, he called for expanded authority to deal with drones, particularly those outside restricted military airspace.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has since announced that the federal government is preparing to roll out high-tech drone detection systems in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut to address public fears.
Whether routine or something more alarming, the growing number of drone sightings—and the mixed messages from officials—continue to leave Americans uneasy. As Peterson put it, “They don’t have the moral fortitude, or the courage, to be honest with the American people.”
