New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced an investigation into multiple drone sightings across New York and New Jersey on Friday, though federal authorities maintain the aerial objects pose no immediate security risk.
Initial Sightings Near Military Installation
The mysterious appearances first began in mid-November when personnel at the Picatinny Arsenal, an Army facility in Morris County, New Jersey, reported observing what appeared to be a drone operating near the base. In subsequent days, the New Jersey State Police began receiving a growing number of similar reports from residents.
Geographic Spread and Official Response
The phenomenon, which initially centered around northern New Jersey counties, has since expanded to include coastal regions and Philadelphia suburbs. By early December, sightings emerged in New York City, first along Staten Island’s western shoreline before spreading to southern Brooklyn near the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge. The most recent reports have come from the Bronx and areas surrounding LaGuardia Airport in Queens.
John Kirby, National Security Council spokesman, addressed the situation at a Thursday news conference, suggesting that many reported sightings likely involved “manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully.” Despite these assurances, public concern remains elevated.
Political Pressure Mounting
The situation has drawn attention from lawmakers across party lines. “The Biden administration has an obligation to the American people to figure out and tell us what is going on immediately,” stated New Jersey Representative Chris Smith in a Friday statement, reports the NY Times.
New Jersey Governor Philip Murphy has formally reached out to the White House, acknowledging their investigative efforts while emphasizing that “more resources are needed to fully understand what is behind this activity.”
Expanding Regional Impact
The scope of sightings has broadened significantly, with reports now coming from upstate New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan added to the growing list of witnesses, reporting what he described as “dozens of large drones in the sky” above his Davidsonville residence.
While Governor Hochul maintains that “there’s no evidence that these drones pose a public safety or national security threat,” state and federal agencies continue their investigation into the nature and origin of these aerial phenomena.
The situation raises important questions about drone detection capabilities, airspace security, and the challenges of distinguishing between authorized and unauthorized aircraft in increasingly crowded skies. As investigations continue, the incident underscores the growing complexity of managing and monitoring unmanned aerial vehicle activity in densely populated regions.
