Beginning on November 18, 2024, dozens of mysterious drone sightings were reported over New Jersey and multiple other U.S. states, sparking widespread public interest and concern. The wave of sightings continued through December 2024, becoming one of the most significant recent UAP events in the United States.
The drones were spotted in various locations including near Picatinny Arsenal (a sensitive U.S. military research facility) and near President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued temporary restrictions prohibiting drone flights over 22 cities in New Jersey until January 17, 2025.
According to witnesses and officials, the aircraft were up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter, traveled with their lights turned off, and operated in a coordinated manner. Some witnesses reported that the drones appeared to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopters and radio.
In Ocean County, sheriff's officers reported seeing approximately 50 drones coming off the ocean. Some witnesses noted the drones had no heat signature and would disappear suddenly.
The drone sightings were not limited to New Jersey. Reports came in from multiple states across the U.S. Northeast:
New York: Several drones were reported flying over the Bronx on December 12. Stewart Airfield had to shut down for about an hour on December 13 due to drone activity. Runways at New York airport were temporarily closed due to drone sightings.
Connecticut: Police confirmed "suspicious drone activity" and a drone detection system was deployed near Groton and New London.
Maryland: Former Republican Governor Larry Hogan reported seeing "dozens" of drones over his home in Davidsonville.
Massachusetts: Two men were arrested on December 14 after a "hazardous drone operation" near Logan International Airport's airspace in Boston.
Pennsylvania: Multiple sightings were reported in eastern Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia.
Ohio: Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was briefly closed on December 13 after small drones were detected flying nearby. Additional drones were reported on December 16 and 17.
Virginia: In October 2024, mysterious drones were seen for 17 days near U.S. military facilities.
International: In late November, drones were also spotted over three U.S. airbases in the UK, and near the Ramstein U.S. military airbase in Germany.
U.S. authorities launched investigations into the drone sightings, involving the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, FAA, and Department of Defense.
President Joe Biden stated there is "nothing nefarious" about the drone sightings and "no sense of danger." Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed there is "no foreign involvement" with respect to the sightings in the northeast.
Following a closed-door briefing on December 17, 2024, Connecticut representative Jim Himes said senior defense and law enforcement officials told lawmakers that "there is zero evidence of laws being broken" by the drones and that the "vast majority" of sightings were normal aircraft or drones being operated lawfully.
A joint statement released by DHS, FBI, FAA, and the Defense Department on December 16 said the sightings are "a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones." The statement added: "We have not identified anything anomalous."
Some lawmakers criticized the government's handling of the situation and lack of public information. Senator Richard Blumenthal and others suggested the drones should be shot down, though shooting down drones is illegal.
U.S. authorities have concluded that the vast majority of drone sightings are attributable to lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned aircraft mistakenly identified as drones. No evidence of foreign involvement or criminal activity has been established.
Secretary Mayorkas noted that a change in federal law last year allowing drones to fly at night may explain the increased sightings. The government estimates there are millions of unregistered drones operating across the U.S., in addition to 800,000 registered drones weighing more than half a pound.
Despite these explanations, many questions remain unanswered, and the phenomenon has generated significant public interest and speculation, including baseless conspiracy theories about nuclear weapons, dirty bombs, and alien involvement.
- Q.01What explains the coordinated movements and behaviors of some of the larger drones reported? Some witnesses described aircraft up to 6 feet in diameter operating in formation with lights off.
- Q.02Why did traditional detection methods (helicopters, radio) fail to track some of these objects? Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia noted the drones "appear to avoid detection."
- Q.03What is the connection, if any, between the U.S. drone wave and similar sightings near U.S. military bases in the UK and Germany?
- Q.04Who or what is operating the larger drones near sensitive military facilities like Picatinny Arsenal?
- Q.05Were any of the objects actually drones from foreign adversaries conducting surveillance, and if so, was this information withheld from the public?