Many New Jersey drone sightings are actually legal, manned aircraft: White House
Many New Jersey 'drone sightings' are legal, manned aircraft, White House says
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby claimed Thursday that many of the reported drone sightings spotted over New Jersey for the past several weeks are actually lawfully operated manned aircraft.
Many reported ‘drone sightings’ in New Jersey over the past several weeks are actually lawfully operated manned aircraft, White House officials said during a briefing Thursday.
White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby made the claim as questions and frustrations continue to mount among residents and lawmakers.
"We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus," Kirby told reporters at the daily White House press briefing. "The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they're working closely with state and local law enforcement to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin."
"Using very sophisticated electronic detection technologies provided by federal authorities, we have not been able to, and neither have state or local law enforcement authorities, corroborate any of the reported visual sightings," Kirby said. "To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully. The United States Coast Guard is providing support to the state of New Jersey, and has confirmed that there is no evidence of any foreign-based involvement from coastal vessels. And importantly, there are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted airspace."
Kirby also called on lawmakers to ‘expand existing counterdrone authorities.’
"We certainly take seriously the threat that can be posed by unmanned aircraft systems, which is why law enforcement and other agencies continue to support New Jersey and investigate the reports, even though they have uncovered no malicious activity or intent at this particular stage," Kirby said Thursday. "While there is no known malicious activity occurring, the reported sightings there do, however, highlight a gap in authorities, and so we urge Congress to pass important legislation that will extend and expand existing counter drone authorities so that we are better prepared to identify and mitigate any potential threats to airports or other critical infrastructure. And so that state and local authorities are provided all the tools that they need to respond to such threats as well."
Kirby’s comments come a day after Congressman Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) claimed in a Fox News interview that ‘very high sources’ informed him the drones may be originating from an Iranian ‘mothership’ stationed off the East Coast of the United States.
The Pentagon later shot down Van Drew’s suggestion that a foreign adversary was behind the drone sightings.
"At this time we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity or are the work of an adversary," Deputy Defense Secretary Sabrina Singh said Wednesday. "We’re going to continue to monitor what is happening."
Featured
Drone or flying car? Expert weighs in after mystery sightings prompt investigation in New Jersey
What is that in the sky? Mystery drone sightings in Delaware County, Philadelphia and New Jersey have prompted many questions and an expert says due to the shape and size of the object in the sky, it could even be a flying car!
When asked specifically about Van Drew’s statement about an Iranian mothership, Singh said there was ‘not any truth’ to that claim.
"There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there is no so-called mothership launching drones towards the United States." she said.
Van Drew later doubled down on his concern in a letter to President Joe Biden, calling for the president to act swiftly. He also called for flight restrictions over New Jersey, and for the order to be given to ‘neutralize’ and drone aircraft in violation of those restrictions.
He also went on to detail some of the circumstantial evidence he referenced in his earlier interview.
Featured
Plane or drone?: Here's how you can check to see what's flying overhead
As officials continue to investigate the origins of mysterious drones spotted in our area, there's an easy (and free) way to help you tell what you've spotted.
The letter claims the Coast Guard has observed drones coming into New Jersey from the Atlantic Ocean and that a sea-based Iranian mothership is currently missing from port. Van Drew's letter states that the timeline for when that ship left port would align with when the sightings began.
"We know that Iran has both the motive and the capability to execute such an operation. They have in the past brought vessels in proximity of the United States, and Iran has a sophisticated drone production partnership with China," Van Drew wrote. "And of course, it is the policy of the Iranian government to bring about the destruction of the United States of America. While I remain open to alternate explanations, I have not been presented a single credible, cohesive narrative except for that Iran is controlling these drones from offshore."
Van Drew went on to propose flight restrictions over New Jersey airspace and an order be given to neutralize any drone aircraft in violation of those restrictions.
In a press release sent Thursday, the Republican called for an honest discussion between officials and the People of New Jersey for more transparency on the situation.
"While the Pentagon and the Governor may try to dismiss the idea of an Iranian drone ship, we now have additional confirmation that this ship exists and it is no longer in its port," said Congressman Van Drew. "I am not claiming that this ship is stationed right off the coast of New Jersey, but we certainly have to explore the possibility it is somewhere out in the ocean. While we cannot say for certain this is the source of the threat, the coincidence is too great to ignore. The U.S. Coast Guard reported that one of their ships was trailed by several dozen drones while commercial fishermen and local law enforcement have reported observations of drones flying in and out of the Atlantic Ocean, and if that is the case, they have to be landing somewhere."
Van Drew also referred to the drones as being the ‘size of minivans.’