The Federal Aviation Administration After numerous sightings in recent weeks, the country issued temporary flight restrictions banning drone flights over parts of New Jersey.
The notice, which expires on January 17, 2025, states that drone operations in support of national defense, homeland security, law enforcement, firefighting, search and rescue operations or disaster relief are not included in the restrictions.
Commercial drone operations are permitted with a valid declaration of work, but an approved airspace waiver for special government interests must be in place and all applicable FAA regulations must be followed.
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A map showing drone density in Monmouth County, New Jersey. (Courtesy: Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office)
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said: White House, and more broadly, the U.S. government does not appear concerned about increasing sightings in New Jersey and other northeastern states.
“Look, I’m the Speaker of the House of Representatives. I have exactly the same frustrations as you and all of us. We have no answers. The government is not delivering it,” Johnson said in an appearance on Fox News.
The speaker said he scheduled a meeting last week with officials from the Department of Defense, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI, and “the answers are not coming.”
A social media user said she filmed several drones hovering over Fairfield, Connecticut on Thursday, December 12th. (Lucy Biggers)
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On Saturday, Biden administration Officials hosted a call addressing concerns related to recent drone sightings.
Representatives from the FBI, FAA, National Security Council, DHS and Department of Defense participated in the call.
An FBI official said the agency has received 5,000 tips since the first mysterious drone flew over New Jersey in November, but of those 5,000 tips, fewer than 100 warranted further investigation.
Photos taken in the Bay Shore section of the Toms River show what appear to be large drones hovering at high altitudes in New Jersey on Sunday, December 8, 2024. The drones appeared to be well above the FAA’s permitted altitude of 400 feet. (Doug Hood/Asbury Park Press)
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The FBI official added that despite the recent surge, investigators have found no evidence of large-scale unmanned drone activity.
“We are doing our best to find out the origin of this specific… this drone activity,” the official said. “But I think there was a slight overreaction.”
Fox News Digital’s Danielle Wallace and Audrey Conklin contributed to this report.
