Answering the question are drones real? Short answer yes drones are real. Drones, also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), are flying devices controlled remotely or programmed to fly autonomously. They’re used for various purposes, including aerial photography, deliveries, agriculture, search and rescue, and even recreational fun. Equipped with cameras, sensors, and GPS, drones are revolutionizing industries by providing new perspectives and efficiencies. So next time you see a flying object buzzing in the sky, it might just be a drone!

What is going on with all these drones? According to the FBI most of the drone sightings are cases of “mistaken identity,” with members of the public misidentifying small, legally operating manned aircraft as drones. Clickbait or real as we dig deeper into recent theories.

Mystery Drones Over New Jersey And Nearby States: DHS Sees No Foreign Threats—As Feds Send Detection System To NY (Updated)

For weeks, citizens across New Jersey — as well as New York, Pennsylvania and Connecticut — have reported seeing clusters of drone-like objects flying low in the sky at night, yet information remains scarce, even as state officials now say they’ve seen the drones firsthand, received mixed information from federal agencies and pushed the FBI for answers.

What Exactly Do We Know About The Drones?

Almost nothing, New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said on X Wednesday. Fantasia’s post was a lengthy summary of a legislative meeting with the Department of Homeland Security about the mysterious sightings. She described the government’s investigation strategy, which includes a coordinated effort led by the FBI with state police, the Office of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard. She described the dozens of nightly sightings as “coordinated” operations of drones “up to 6 [feet]

in diameter” flying for six to seven hours—distances of 15 miles—unrelated to “hobbyists” or the Department of Homeland Security, which “appear to avoid detection by traditional methods (e.g., helicopters, radio frequencies).” They also aren’t related to military operations, the Picatinny Arsenal said in a statement to NJ Advance Media on Nov. 24.

Where Have The Drones Been Spotted?

Many of the sightings have taken place in New Jersey, but there are also reports from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, Massachusetts and elsewhere. Drones have reportedly been spotted in at least 12 New Jersey counties, including in the airspace over Naval Weapons Station Earle and above “critical infrastructure” in Florham Park.

There have also been reports of unidentified drones around Staten Island in New York City, including near the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge in New York City, according to Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y. Sightings also occurred around Philadelphia, Virginia Beach and Fairfield, Connecticut, and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan posted a video on X of alleged “large drones” in Davidsonville, in-between Annapolis and Washington, D.C. Further north, Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey said she is aware of a “growing number of drone sightings” in her state.

Are The Drones Considered A National Security Threat?

Officials say there’s no indication of security threats. The FBI and DHS released a statement on Thursday saying investigators have “no evidence at this time” of “malicious activity” in New Jersey or a “national security or public safety threat.” The statement adds they have not identified “a foreign nexus” for the drones and will continue the investigation. It also said many of the drone sightings have been “cases of mistaken identity,” confusing drones for lawful, identified aircraft. John Kirby, the White House’s national security communications advisor, reiterated the FBI’s statement at a briefing Thursday and said officials “have not been able to...corroborate any of the reported visual sightings.”

What Has Trump Said About The Drones?

Trump on Friday suggested without evidence the federal government isn't telling the public everything it knows about the drones, and called for them to be shot out of the sky if it officials don’t know what they are. The claim echoes those of other politicians like Malliotakis, who said she does not believe the U.S., “with its military capabilities, does not know what these objects are.” In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump also knocked former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie over the sightings, posting what appears to be an AI-generated image of Christie surrounded by drones delivering McDonald’s orders.

Recreational and commercial drones have surged in popularity, with nearly a million registered by the FAA, leading to growing concerns about unsafe or malicious use. Drones are allowed in New Jersey for personal use and commercial projects, but the state requires pilots to get a certification and follow federal guidelines around the acceptable use of drones. According to FAA rules, recreational drones must stay within view of the flyer, and are typically only allowed to operate at or below 400 feet in uncontrolled airspace, or with prior permission in controlled areas like around airports.

Commercially available drones also typically have a short battery life and often can only last 10 minutes to about one hour in the air. If an unknown flyer isn’t following these guidelines, it can be complicated to take the drone down. One example of this came in 2023, when unidentified aircraft were spotted and investigated by the Air Force in 2023 at the Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, the Wall Street Journal reported. According to federal laws, the military can only take down drones by military bases if the drones exhibit a clear threat, and spying isn’t one, the Journal notes. The Journal also reported technological solutions for taking down the Virginia drones, like signal jamming or destructive technology, would have been risky for citizens and planes. After these drone appearances, the Pentagon released a classified new approach to dealing with these issues, Fox News reported.

THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW:

Drones offer unique opportunities for business and recreational usage. Also known as unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), drones are flying machines that don’t require the use of a pilot within the device itself. The initial purpose of drones were military in nature, an innovation that was intended to eliminate the dangers to pilots in potentially dangerous situations. Now many companies are experimenting with drone usage as part of their business model. Drones have also helped to revolutionize the cinematic industry, with picturesque views from the sky and even been used in agriculture to better monitor crop conditions.

THINGS YOU MAY WANT TO SAVE: YOUR DRONE LAUNCHER

ZENTRAVELER SAYS: DRONES R US

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