The mysterious nighttime drone flights plaguing New Jersey residents for weeks has now reportedly reached over into one in all New York Metropolis’s boroughs.
Sightings of the buzzing drones over New Jersey communities have been reported for weeks, prompting the eye of not solely native legislation enforcement but additionally the FBI.
This week, Staten Island grew to become a goal of the eyes within the sky. Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis, a Republican representing the borough, mentioned she requested a direct briefing from the FBI and Homeland Safety to find out what’s being completed.
The Federal Aviation Administration, in the meantime, has imposed drone flight restrictions within the space whereas authorities examine the stories.
Drones have been noticed flying overhead at evening in eight New Jersey counties up to now, courting again to the week earlier than Thanksgiving.
On Thursday, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy posted on social media he had met with Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, members of the federal Division of Homeland Safety, state police and members of the Backyard State’s congressional delegation “discuss reported drone activity over parts of North and Central New Jersey.”
“We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter,” the second-term Democrat wrote, whereas noting there isn’t a none risk to the general public.
The governor of New Jersey is making an attempt to unravel all of those mysterious drone sightings. Information 4 New York’s Adam Harding stories.
New Jersey residents Phil Doyle and his spouse Maureen went exterior to their again patio on Tuesday evening once they heard loud buzzing coming from overhead. Doyle mentioned they noticed dozens of flying objects, believed to be drones, coming from the route of Picatinny Arsenal and heading northwest.
“One goes over and then another. It’s not two or three a night, it’s 30 or 50 a night. They have lights on them so you can see them,” he mentioned.
Doyle estimates the handfuls of drones flying over his house in Oak Ridge had been in regards to the measurement of his eating room desk.
“Why are they suddenly here? What’s the basis for these drones suddenly appearing? They’ve been around for a while and now we are getting all this activity, so who’s behind it?” he asks.
Drones have additionally been noticed flying over reservoirs, rail stations, and container terminals— all in crowded airspace with three main industrial airports.
“Let’s say a drone loses control and it goes above 500 feet, it could be catastrophic on an airplane midair. It could easily take out an engine, it could smash into the cockpit,” based on aviation knowledgeable JP Tristani.
Tristani added, “Is it a hazard, yes. Should it be addressed, yes. Are you waiting for a catastrophic event? You should not be doing that, it’s a matter of public safety and it has to be stopped now.”
The FBI requested that residents share any movies or images they could have of the flights, together with every other related info.
Evesham police requested for a similar and that anybody with information “contact our non-emergency line at 856-983-1116, our confidential tip line at 856-983-4699, or send an anonymous tip using the text ETPDTIP to 847411.”
