A haunting buzz and flashing lights have captivated residents in New Jersey, where mysterious drone swarms have appeared nightly since November 18. Crowds gather to film the strange phenomenon, flooding social media with grainy videos. The drones, seen in regions with a population of 500,000 and recently over Staten Island in New York City, have left authorities and residents puzzled.
Dozens of Sightings Every Night
On Sunday alone, 49 sightings were reported. Witness Phil Doyle described the eerie spectacle to NBC: “One flies by, then another—it’s 30 a night, and they have lights!” He called the phenomenon both threatening and unsettling. One particularly bizarre incident involved 12 drones allegedly trailing a U.S. Coast Guard boat.
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) weighed in on Wednesday, stating preliminary investigations suggest the drones are not linked to “foreign entities.”
Aliens? Advanced Technology? Or Something Else?
While speculation initially included extraterrestrial involvement, motor sounds heard from the drones and their apparent design point toward advanced drone technology. These drones are reportedly larger than typical hobbyist models and equipped with sophisticated features, including lights that mysteriously disappear mid-flight, according to Governor Phil Murphy.
The nightly appearances have already escalated into a political issue, with mounting pressure on the White House to provide answers and implement countermeasures.
Wild Theories and Speculations
Despite the Pentagon’s initial denial of foreign involvement, theories abound:
- Foreign Espionage: Congressman Jeff Van Drew suggested the drones might be tied to an Iranian “mothership” stationed off the Atlantic Coast, launching swarms to gather intelligence. He cited “high-ranking, credible government insiders” as his source.
- Chinese or Russian Spying: Some Republicans suspect the drones could be controlled by Chinese or Russian operatives to surveil military bases and critical infrastructure. This theory gained traction after the arrest of Yinpiao Zhou in California for flying a drone over the Vandenberg Space Force Base. Memories of the 2023 Chinese spy balloon incident also linger, fueling these suspicions.
- Secret Military Operations: Clint Emerson, a former Navy SEAL, proposed that the drones could be part of a classified U.S. defense program testing new technologies. Such “Special Access” projects involve only a select few insiders.
Calls for Action Intensify
The lack of clear answers from the FBI, the White House, and the U.S. military has only added to public frustration. Demands to shoot down and thoroughly investigate the drones are growing louder, with both citizens and politicians urging swift action to solve the mystery.
For now, the nightly drone invasions over New Jersey remain unexplained, leaving a cloud of intrigue and anxiety in their wake.
