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By Jesus Mesa
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Authorities in Morris County, New Jersey, are investigating reports of unauthorized drone activity after multiple large drones were spotted flying erratically for more than two hours on Monday night.
Witnesses reported seeing at least five drones, with some estimates suggesting as many as a dozen, moving across towns including Morristown, Madison, and Mendham.
Described as larger than typical commercial drones, the devices were tracked by law enforcement and New Jersey State Police aviation units.
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Community monitoring group N. Jerzy Fire Alert kept residents updated on the sightings through social media, urging local authorities to stay vigilant.
"Unusual activity reported over Morris County, NJ: multiple large drones spotted flying from the Somerset County border northward and back. Law enforcement has been advised to notify their communications centers of any sightings," the group posted on X, formerly Twitter, along with an image of the drones.
Other residents raised concerns about the drones' advanced capabilities. "How does a battery last that long with those drones?" one Facebook user commented on the Live Storm Chasers page.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been notified, as federal regulations require drones above a certain size to be registered and flown only in approved areas. Unauthorized drone flights can pose significant safety risks, particularly in proximity to highways such as Interstate 80 and residential neighborhoods.
Law enforcement has not released details about potential operators or the purpose of the drones. Early social media posts claimed a U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter was involved, but OSINTdefender, an open-source intelligence account, clarified the situation.
"An AW139 Helicopter with the New Jersey State Police was tracking the drones to the north of Dover but has since departed the area. There was not a 'Blackhawk' with the U.S. Army following the drones, like was being claimed by some accounts on X," the post read.
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Drone regulations in New Jersey are governed by both federal and state laws to ensure safety and privacy. Federally, the FAA mandates that drones over 0.55 pounds be registered and must be flown below 400 feet, with additional licensing for commercial operators. State laws prohibit drone use near correctional facilities, critical infrastructure, and during emergencies if it interferes with first responders.
In an emailed statement to Newsweek on Wednesday, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness addressed a prior inquiry by referring questions about the investigation to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and confirming their collaboration with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies.
"NJOHSP is aware of reports of unmanned aerial vehicle activity in Morris County and will continue to monitor the situation alongside our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners," the statement read.
"At this time, there are no known specific or credible threats to New Jersey."
Update 11/20/24, 12:29 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.
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