What we know about mysterious drones over New Jersey and other states

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c62785697v0o

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Dozens of people have reported seeing drones over New Jersey since 18 November

Mystery continues to swirl after nearly a month of drone sightings over New Jersey and other US states, alarming some residents.

US authorities have been unable to provide definitive answers, saying only that the objects are not believed to pose a danger to the public or national security.

On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas confirmed the sightings included drones, as well as manned aircraft commonly mistaken for drones.

He added that he knows of "no foreign involvement" to do with the unmanned aerial vehicles.

Some lawmakers have criticised the government's handling of the drone reports and the lack of public information.

Here's what we know.

Where have drones been spotted?

Dozens of drone sightings have been reported over New Jersey since 18 November, but others have been reported around the US north-east.

Some of the flights were spotted near Picatinny Arsenal - a sensitive military research facility - as well as near President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in the town of Bedminster, New Jersey.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has since issued temporary flight restrictions prohibiting drone flights over Bedminster and Picatinny.

Sightings have also been reported in several other states:

In New York City, several drones were reported flying over the Bronx on 12 December

Stewart Airfield in New York state had to shut down for about an hour on 13 December because of drone activity, Governor Kathy Hochul said

In Connecticut, police confirmed "suspicious drone activity". A drone detection system is now in use near the towns of Groton and New London

In Maryland, former Republican Governor Larry Hogan said he saw what appeared to be "dozens" of drones over his home in Davidsonville

In Massachusetts, two men were arrested on 14 December after a "hazardous drone operation" near Logan International Airport's airspace in Boston, police said

Multiple sightings have been reported in eastern Pennsylvania, including over Philadelphia

In October, the Wall Street Journal reported that mysterious drones were seen for 17 days near US military facilities in Virginia

In late November, drones were also spotted over three US airbases in the UK, with British defence sources telling the BBC suspicion had fallen on a "state actor".

Drones were also reported near the Ramstein US military airbase in Germany in early December.

Are mystery drones above US bases in England something sinister?

What have investigators said about the drones?

In a call with reporters, officials from several US agencies said there was no evidence of any threat to public safety.

"I think there has been a slight overreaction," an official from the FBI said.

The homeland security secretary told ABC News on Sunday he knows of "no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the north-east".

"And we are vigilant in investigating this matter," he said.

Mayorkas added: "If there is any reason for concern, if we identify any foreign involvement or criminal activity, we will communicate with the American public accordingly."

What are these flying objects?

Following a briefing with the Department of Homeland Security on 11 December, New Jersey assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said the drones appeared to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio.

Fantasia said the aircraft were up to 6ft (1.8m) in diameter, travelling with lights turned off and "operate in a co-ordinated manner".

Secretary Mayorkas told ABC that an explanation for the uptick in drone sightings could be to do with a change in federal law last year that allowed drones to be flown at night.

"That may be one of the reasons why now people are seeing more drones than they did before, especially from dawn to dusk," he said.

Where are they coming from?

It is unclear who might be operating them.

New Jersey Republican representative Jeff Van Drew said that the drones were coming from an Iranian "mothership" in the Atlantic, while Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi said there was a "non-trivial" chance that China could be involved.

The Pentagon, White House and homeland security department have all insisted that there is no foreign origin for the objects.

A northern California man was charged on with flying a drone over and taking pictures of Vandenberg Space Force Base, located near Santa Barbara, on 30 November.

The man, 39-year-old Chinese national Yinpiao Zhou was arrested just before he boarded a flight to China.

But there has been no suggestion this incident has any connection with the spate of drone reports on the other side of the country.

The Pentagon says there is no foreign origin for the objects

Can the drones be stopped?

President-elect Trump has suggested the drones couldn't be flying without the government's knowledge.

"Let the public know, and now," he wrote on his Truth Social media platform. "Otherwise, shoot them down."

Authorities have warned against shooting down drones as it is illegal.

In a statement, the FAA warned that drone operators who conduct unsafe or dangerous operations could face fines of up to $75,000 (£59,000) and have their drone pilot certificates revoked.

New York State Governor Hochul has called on the federal government to allow states to crack down on the drones.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer has requested that federal officials send drone detection systems to New York and New Jersey.