Mysterious drone sightings continue to spark concern across New Jersey and beyond, with reports of large, car-sized drones hovering over sensitive locations like military bases and even crash sites prompting major emergency responses. Officials and residents are calling for answers from the U.S. government as investigations intensify.
New Jersey Drone Crash Sparks Hazmat Response
- Incident: A reported drone crash near a Lowe’s store in Hillsborough, New Jersey, on Thursday evening triggered a large-scale emergency response.
- Search Efforts:
- Somerset County Hazmat teams, police officers, and firefighters scoured the area on foot and by air from early Friday morning.
- The search, which included the Police Aviation Unit, yielded no findings, and was called off by midday.
- Precautions: Officials were prepared for potential hazards, with Mayor Michael Melham of Belleville instructing fire departments to don hazmat suits in similar scenarios. He stated that authorities are treating downed drones as potential homeland security threats, given uncertainty over payloads.
Spread of Drone Sightings
- Geographic Reach: Since mid-November, drones have been spotted in at least 12 counties across New Jersey, eastern Pennsylvania, and Orange County, New York.
- High-Profile Locations: Early sightings occurred over the U.S. Army’s Picatinny Arsenal and President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster golf course.
- Unexplained Origins: The Department of Homeland Security acknowledged the lack of information on where the drones are coming from or where they are landing.
International Concerns
- UK Military Bases Targeted: Last month, a coordinated swarm of drones hovered over three U.S. Air Force bases in the UK, including RAF Lakenheath, Mildenhall, and Feltwell.
- Russian Connection?: Former British intelligence officer Philip Ingram suggested the drones bear the hallmarks of a Russian GRU operation aimed at creating disruption.
- Future Threats: Ingram warned of further drone activity or alternative disruptions in the coming months.
Heightened Security Measures
- Guidance for First Responders:
- In New Jersey, fire departments have been directed to contact bomb squads and wear hazmat suits if encountering downed drones.
- Mayor Melham described the protocol as a precautionary response to potential payloads, treating such incidents as homeland security threats rather than routine crashes.
Public Anxiety and Calls for Action
With no clear answers about the origins or intentions behind the drone sightings, the situation has heightened public and governmental concern. Investigations by the FBI and Department of Homeland Security are ongoing, but the lack of progress has fueled speculation about potential espionage, sabotage, or other threats.
