New Jersey drone sightings
From mid-November 2024, residents in Morris County reported large, lighted drones flying at night, including over Picatinny Arsenal and near the president-elect's golf club in Bedminster. Reports spread across New Jersey and into New York, Pennsylvania and beyond. The FAA placed temporary flight restrictions over dozens of sites. Stewart International Airport briefly closed its runways, and many viral videos turned out to show airliners.
Explanation
A joint FBI, DHS, FAA and DoD review found a mix of lawful commercial, hobbyist and law-enforcement drones, crewed aircraft and stars, with no threat to national security. In January 2025 the White House said the drones over New Jersey had been authorized by the FAA for research and other purposes.
What was seen
Shape: Large lighted drones; many reports were aircraft
Witnesses: Thousands of residents, police, state officials
Duration: About six weeks
Browse
- United States
- 2020s
- Explained
- Recurring lights
- Official government documents
- Many independent witnesses
- Photographs
- Video footage
- Police witnesses