New Jersey Drone Sightings Ignite Public Curiosity and Debate

Officials and experts urge calm as reports of mysterious aerial objects spread across the U.S., with explanations ranging from drones to misidentified planes and stars.

Reports of unidentified flying objects began in New Jersey in mid-November and have since spread to other states, including New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.
Federal agencies, including the FAA and Department of Defense, attribute most sightings to drones, planes, helicopters, or misidentified stars, and have found no evidence of a national security threat.
Experts note that night skies can cause optical illusions, making it difficult to distinguish drones from airplanes or other objects, especially during busy holiday travel periods.
Lawmakers and the public have expressed frustration over the lack of concrete explanations, with some officials calling for better drone detection technology and clearer communication.
Drone experts caution against overreaction, emphasizing that most drones are recreational or lawful, and urge people to use tools like flight-tracking apps to verify sightings before reporting them.