The FBI is investigating mysterious drone sightings in North Jersey

After reports of unusual drone activity over Morris County last week — and additional sightings over the weekend — the FBI has become interested in a mystery that has sparked widespread interest on social media.

“We are working with our state and local partners on the reported drone activity,” Amy Thoreson, public affairs specialist at the FBI’s Newark office, said Tuesday.

Drone sightings have also been recently reported in Warren County, according to William Austin, president of Warren County Community College, who also teaches drone piloting at the school.

Austin, who has been flying drones for a decade, said he believes most drones have a GPS identification chip: “It’s just a matter of time before someone finds out who it is. It’s like flying with LoJack.”

The story continues in the photo gallery

Several sightings in Morris

Morris County authorities first responded on November 18 to several reports from residents who claimed to have seen drones flying overhead. Police officers on patrol also reported drone sightings, it said.

“Morris County municipal police departments, as well as our federal and state law enforcement partners, are aware of these activities and will continue to coordinate, monitor and investigate drone activity,” said a statement from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office and Sheriff’s Office. the Morris County Police Chief’s Association and the Office of Emergency Management.

The county’s statement, issued in response to numerous drone sightings reported on social media, added: “There is no known threat to public safety.”

“We encourage the public to be aware that what they read online may not be accurate,” district officials wrote.

Officials at the 6,400-acre Picatinny Arsenal military research and production facility in northwest Morris County also said they were aware of the “numerous reports” and were working with partner law enforcement agencies “to obtain further information on the reported activities.”

“We remind everyone that it is unlawful to fly (drones) over Picatinny Arsenal or any other federal military facility without prior authorization,” a Picatinny spokesman said Tuesday.

More sightings this weekend

Since then, more drone activity has been reported over Morris, prompting the Morristown and Morris Township police departments to issue Nixle Alerts to residents over the weekend.

“We are aware of drone activity in the area,” Morristown police said. “If you observe a drone, please contact Morristown Police. If a drone crashes or lands, do not approach or handle it.”

“There have been many reports of drone activity in Morris Township,” Morris Township police said the same day, adding that they were not allowed to be touched.

On Monday, requests for updates to the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office were referred to the FBI.

Sightings over Warren County Reservoir

Austin said he also knows that sightings have been reported in Warren County in the past month, including at least one over Merrill Creek Reservoir.

Drones are not allowed to fly over the reservoir, not only for safety reasons but also because of the presence of bald eagle nests nearby. “Eagles and drones don’t mix!” reads a note on the reservoir website.

“You don’t normally fly drones over critical infrastructure like this,” said Austin, who has tasked his students with searching for and reporting drone sightings.

Adding to public concern is that most of the drone sightings over Morris and Warren counties that Austin is aware of occurred at night.

“There is concern for every citizen, for people who manage airports or fly planes in the sky,” Austin said.

Reported sightings near Morristown Municipal Airport prompted officials there to contact Austin and ask if he had any leads on identifying the suspects.

Sightings of up to three or four drones flying in formation have been reported in Warren County, Austin said. This leads him to speculate that multiple pilots may be working together in these cases.

Is it legal?

Given federal bans on drone flights near an airport, Austin said the drone pilots may not be trying to break the law.

“If they are being flown legally – which they may be – they should have remote GPS detection on the drones,” Austin said. “So they should be able to identify who the pilots are and where they are by getting the data from the drone as they fly around. If they don’t have ID that they’re legally required to provide at that point, that’s going to make it very, very difficult to find them.

The FBI is investigating mysterious drone sightings in North Jersey

ByAmelia Journalton

By Amelia Journalton

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