New Jersey’s Mysterious Drones Should Be Shot Down if Necessary: Senator

A U.S. senator is urging for drastic action against unidentified drones flying over sensitive areas in New Jersey and the broader Mid-Atlantic region—including potentially shooting them down.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut, voiced concerns about the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) on Thursday, calling for urgent intelligence analysis to identify and, if necessary, eliminate the drones from the skies, especially over airports and military bases.

The senator criticized the Biden administration’s response, demanding more aggressive efforts to address the unidentified drones.

He said: “The lack of information is absolutely unacceptable. The American people deserve to know who owns them, who is flying them, and what their purpose is.”

What is Senator Richard Blumenthal Calling For?

The drones have been spotted over various locations, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.

The sightings have sparked fears about security, particularly regarding potential interference with commercial air traffic.

Blumenthal expressed concern that the drones could be sharing airspace with commercial airlines, raising public safety risks.

According to state officials, including Governor Phil Murphy, there has been no direct threat to public safety from the drones.

When Are Drones A Security Threat?

The FBI has launched an investigation and is calling on the public to share any relevant footage or information.

However, it remains unclear who is operating the drones or their intentions.

New Jersey lawmaker Dawn Fantasia, who has been briefed on the situation by the Department of Homeland Security, described the drones as up to six feet in diameter and noted that some of the objects were seen flying with their lights off, making them harder to detect.

The drones have been reported across a large area, from the New York City vicinity to parts of Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, though it is unclear whether these sightings are linked.

Senator Cory Booker, also of New Jersey, voiced frustration over the lack of transparency surrounding the drone incidents, suggesting that the public deserves more information to avoid fear and misinformation.

What Regulations Are Drones Subject to?

Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial purposes but are subject to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations and flight restrictions.

Most that are sighted appear to be larger than typical hobbyist models, which has heightened concerns about their potential use for surveillance or other illicit purposes.

In addition to Blumenthal, several Republican lawmakers from New Jersey, including Representatives Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, have called for the military to intervene and shoot down the drones.

Smith cited an incident in which a dozen drones were reported to have followed a U.S. Coast Guard lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County.

The Coast Guard confirmed the sighting, noting that multiple low-altitude aircraft were observed in the area near the Coast Guard vessel.

As investigations continue, questions remain about the identity of the drone operators and the reasons behind the increasing number of sightings.

This story contains additional reporting from The Associated Press.