OCEAN COUNTY — It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s still unknown what is flying in New Jersey’s skies, although drone flight bans have been put in place in some North Jersey towns.
Over the course of the past month, residents across New Jersey have reported numerous sightings of unusual drones, with local authorities urging witnesses to contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
On Dec. 18, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), at the request of federal security partners, published 23 Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs) prohibiting drone flights over critical New Jersey infrastructure due to the sightings in the night skies over both New York and New Jersey.
These towns are: Bedminster, Evesham, Hamilton, North Brunswick, Cedar Grove, Bridgewater, Metuchen, Camden, Gloucester City, Westampton, South Brunswick, Edison, Branchburg, Jersey City, Sewaren, Harrison, Elizabeth, Bayonne, Winslow, Burlington, Clifton, Hancocks Bridge and Kearny.
Two days later, 30 New York towns were issued TFRs on Dec. 20.
All these bans last roughly one month, with restrictions being lifted in mid-to-late January.
The bans in New Jersey do not include any areas within southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties, and both U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4 urged the FAA to include bans along the Jersey Shore for the safety and security of the area.
In a press release from Rep. Smith’s office on Dec. 20, he said, “As swarms of unidentified drones have violated our airspace over the past month, our state law enforcement leaders have been precluded by law from taking more decisive action, leaving our highly trained officers — who are on the ground and situationally aware — almost completely hamstrung.”
He said, “My legislation is critically needed given the huge gaps that exist in our ability to counter unlawful drones which have been exposed by the unusual activity occurring across our state.”
In a press briefing on Dec. 19, Rep. Smith said, “New Jerseyans are not frightened easily…(We) are very disturbed by Homeland Security,” on their lack of an efficient response or solid answers on what could be flying in New Jersey’s skies.
“The secretary of Homeland Security is saying there is nothing unusual about this. Of course it is unusual,” Smith said. “Homeland Security has done far too little.”
Smith previously said in a briefing on Dec. 14 in Seaside Heights, “For weeks, we’ve asked for the truth and action to mitigate any and all threats to people and property…Now we are demanding it….As the sightings increase including by servicemembers at Naval Weapons Station Earle…where several have been seen or by the Coast Guard which had one of its 47-foot rescue boats followed in very close proximity off its stern by numerous drones…why can’t we bag at least one drone and get to the bottom of this?”
Smith said on Dec. 14, “The elusive maneuvering of these drones suggests a major military power sophistication that begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities…or worse…by violent dictatorships including Russia, China, Iran or North Korea…The Pentagon has said the drones are not ours.” He emphasized these statements in the Dec. 19 briefing.
A joint press statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FBI and the FAA released on Dec. 17 stated, “(The) FBI has received tips of more than 5,000 reported drone sightings in the last few weeks with approximately 100 leads generated, and the federal government is supporting state and local officials in investigating these reports.”
“Consistent with each of our unique missions and authorities, we are quickly working to prioritize and follow these leads. We have sent advanced detection technology to the region. And we have sent trained visual observers,” the agencies stated.
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Ocean Star—on newsstands Friday or online in our e-Edition.
This is an excerpt of the print article. For more on this story, read The Coast Star—on newsstands Thursday or online in our e-Edition.
Subscribe today! If you're not already an annual subscriber to The Ocean Star, get your subscription today! For just $38 per year, you will receive local mail delivery weekly, with pages and pages of local news and online access to our e-edition on Starnewsgroup.com.
Subscribe today! If you're not already an annual subscriber to The Coast Star, get your subscription today! For just $38 per year, you will receive local mail delivery weekly, with pages and pages of local news and online access to our e-edition on Starnewsgroup.com.
 6x10 4c.jpg)
