Drones latest: Biden insists flying objects pose ‘no danger’ as FBI issues urgent firearm and laser warning
The bureau has warned New Jersey residents to avoid shooting down or shining lasers at suspect unmanned aircraft systems after complaints from pilots
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden insisted that there is “no sense of danger” surrounding the mysterious spate of drone sightings across the US.
“Nothing nefarious apparently, but they’re checking it all out,” he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday amid growing public demands for an explanation. “We’re following this closely, but so far no sense of danger.”
The FBI also issued a warning to New Jersey residents, urging them not to shoot down or shine lasers at suspected drones flying overhead. The bureau, along with state police, noted an increase of pilots being hit in the eyes with lasers, after those on the ground have mistaken planes for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS’s).
“There is also a concern with people possibly firing weapons at what they believe to be a UAS,” the agency added in a statement.
Members of Congress were briefed on the potential origins of the drones in a classified House Intelligence Committee meeting on Tuesday by Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder.
Officials continue to brush off claims that the UAS’s are linked with anything more clandestine, with Ryder telling reporters: “Completely understand the concerns, completely will reinforce we’re taking it seriously.”
Bethenny Frankel shares bizarre theory about mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey
NJ mayor suggests drones are looking for missing radioactive material - pushing conspiracy theory about their origins
How to tell the difference between a drone, a plane and a UFO
Mapped: All the locations of mass drone sightings in the last week
Sen. Gillibrand says she is not satisfied by the Biden administration’s reassurances that drones are operating legally
“I don’t know if it’s safe or not safe because we don’t have full domain awareness,” New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told CNN on Tuesday.
“When they are located for two straight weeks over Langley, that is definitely not enthusiasts,” she said. “That is definitely not without risk or without a national security concern.”
Langley is the area of the headquarters for the CIA.
White House spokesperson says drone sightings are ‘lawful, legal’ activity
“Sometimes the answer is to find a way to down a drone and sometimes the answer is to not. And, a lot of it depends on the capability that the base commander has available to him or to her. But, they have the authorities that they need,” White House national security communications adviser John Kirby told Fox News Channel’s America’s Newsroom on Tuesday.
“The sense that you have to shoot everything down just when you see it, even if you do believe that there’s a malicious intent doesn’t comport with actually reality,” he continued.
Kirby said that the government has a “good sense” on what’s happening, agreeing with President-elect Donald Trump’s assessment on Monday.
“This is lawful, legal aviation activity,” he said, “manned and unmanned drones, civil aviation. We’ve seen nothing that leads us to a different conclusion.”
Venus may be fueling drone hysteria
A blurry video of a bright orb in the night sky fueled social media speculation on Monday.
The clip has more than 913,000 views on the platform X.
“We’re looking at the moon right now and that’s nowhere near the moon,” ABC 7’s Toni Yates said in the video.
Atmospheric scientist Matthew Cappucci and former congressman Adam Kinzinger both posted to respond to the report.
“It’s literally Venus,” Kinzinger said.
“Folks at home – you’ll see Venus shine brightly (-4.13 magnitude, which is makes it the second-brightest celestial object in the night sky) after sunset over the coming nights. Then Jupiter, near opposition, next to the moon,” Cappucci replied.
NASA said that Venus, the second planet from the sun, would be hard to miss in the southwest after sunset this month.
New Jersey congresswoman releases drone plan of action
New Jersey Rep. Mikie Sherrill has released a plan to locate and track drones flying over her state.
It would also increase information available to local law enforcement authorities, and improve communications with residents.
“I’m incredibly frustrated with the lack of coordination and communication from agencies as New Jerseyans continue to watch unidentified drones fly across our skies, Sherrill said in a press release.
“That’s why, after writing to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and consulting with local leaders and subject matter experts, I am releasing a plan of action that will help meet these goals,” she continued. “I urge federal, state, and local leadership to use this plan in order to enact an effective, whole-of-government response to protect our state and better communicate information with the public and local authorities.”
Sherill’s plan comes amid division in the party over the Biden administration’s response to the drones.
“It’s all about information and briefings, which has been my complete frustration,” New Jersey Rep. Josh Gottheimer said, according to The Hill. “I’ve asked the FBI and DHS to actually do a proper public briefing.”
New Jersey mayor says ‘something’s going on’ with drones
Washington Township Mayor Matthew Murello has told Good Morning America that “something’s going on” with the drones spotted in his state.
“I’m not trying to stir anything up, but we all know – if you just turn on the television – that drones can be used in an aggressive fashion,” Murello said.
“They can carry payloads. They can be used for all kinds of really aggressive-type things.”
Murello expressed frustration at federal officials for not revealing more information.
“Nobody knows what these things are doing,” he said.
“Best case scenario, they’re just getting video of us. Again, I don’t know why out here. We’re nothing but farm country. If you want videos of cows, I’ll be happy to send you some.”
Trump called out for ‘fat-shaming’ Chris Christie with AI drone meme
Of all the bizarre theories the drones have inspired so far, the cruellest is surely Donald Trump‘s Truth Social meme suggesting they are delivering large quantities of McDonald’s to the ex-New Jersey governor Chris Christie.
In addition to being deeply unkind and childish, the president-elect’s trolling is also hypocritical: he himself is no stranger to junk food and even worked in a branch of McDonald’s in Pennsylvania on the campaign trail this year.
James Liddell has more.
Trump called out for AI image of Christie eating McDonald’s surrounded by drones
Mysterious lights have been spotted in the skies above New Jersey and New York in recent weeks
A government psyop or a foreign military threat? Drones send conspiracy theories flying across internet
Benny Johnson is by no means the only person entertaining unhinged reactions to the drones.
Their appearance has prompted a litany of conspiracy theories to fly across the internet, with people variously suggesting they could be part of a government psychological operation, aliens or a foreign military threat.
Gustaf Kilander takes a closer look.
A government psyop and a foreign military threat: The conspiracies behind the drones
‘Some of those drone sightings are, in fact, drones. Some are manned aircraft that are commonly mistaken for drones,’ homeland security secretary says
Are fake aliens flying over New Jersey to ‘steal Trump’s swagger?’ One MAGA podcaster is worried
Right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson has reacted to the mysterious drones appearing over the East Coast in recent weeks by asking if they were part of a “fake alien invasion” being staged to “steal Trump’s swagger” ahead of his inaugration as the 47th President of the United States on January 20.
Justin Baragona reports.
Are fake aliens flying over NJ to ‘steal Trump’s swagger?’ MAGA podcaster is worried
The pro-Trump YouTuber also claimed that the unknown drones were part of a “massive psyop” to “destabilize” Trump’s administration, adding that the American government has control of alien technology.
Two arrested over Boston airport drone incident while Ohio military base forced to shut airspace
Two men have been arrested for operating a drone “dangerously close” to a Boston airport while a critical Ohio Air Force base was forced to shut its airspace as investigations continue into reports of hundreds of flying objects sighted over the US.
Robert Duffy, 42, and Jeremy Folcik, 32, both of Massachusetts, were arrested and charged with trespassing on Saturday evening after their unmanned aircraft system was detected above Logan International Airport, according to the Boston Police Department.
James Liddell has more.
Two arrested for Boston airport drone incident as Ohio military base shuts airspace
The incidents come after the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security said there is ‘no evidence’ the drone sightings pose a national security threat
Trump makes New Jersey drone sighting plea to White House: ‘Something strange is going on’
This is what the president-elect had to say about the matter during his wide-ranging press conference at his Mar-a-Lago home in Florida yesterday.
Trump makes drone sighting plea as he claims ‘something strange is going on’
Donald Trump has claimed the government knows more than it is telling the public about the mystery drones spotted flying over New Jersey. Speaking at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Monday (16 December), the president-elect questioned why the Biden administration is keeping the public “in suspense”. Trump claimed: “Look, our military knows where they took off from.” When asked if he had received an intelligence briefing on the drones, Trump declined to answer. “Our military knows, and our president knows, and for some reason they want to keep people in suspense,” Trump said. The president-elect added: “Something strange is going on. For some reason they don’t want to tell the people.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments