Dozens of drones have been spotted at night across New Jersey in recent weeks, including near sensitive sites such as a military research facility, Gov. Phil Murphy said Monday. Murphy said the drones don't appear to pose a public safety concern, the AP reports. The FBI has been investigating reports about the mysterious nighttime drone flights that started occurring last month across the central part of New Jersey and has asked the public for help. Since then, residents have reported seeing drones in other areas. While speaking at an unrelated bill-signing event in Princeton, Murphy noted there were 49 reports of drones on Sunday, mostly in Hunterdon County.
The Democratic governor said those numbers included possible sightings and potentially the same drone being reported more than once. "This is something we're taking deadly seriously. I don't blame people for being frustrated," Murphy said. It's unclear who's piloting the drones and why, but federal and state officials have repeatedly stressed that there's no known threat to public safety. Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they're subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Drone operators also must be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists.
The flights initially raised questions in part because they took place near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Trump's golf course in Bedminster. Most of the drones have been spotted along coastal areas, and some of the devices were recently spotted over a large reservoir in Clinton. The FBI asks that residents share any videos or photos they may have of the flights, along with any other relevant information.
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