Authorities are investigating why a fleet of drones are flooding the skies in northern New Jersey, specifically in the area of Donald Trump’s golf club, Trump National Golf Club in nearby Bedminster Township, New Jersey.
Multiple videos show drones flying in Somerset and Morris counties over the past few weeks, including Dec. 1 and Dec. 3.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed on Tuesday it issued two flight restrictions, including airspace above Trump Bedminster.
Another night of drones in New Jersey. We saw a huge fixed wing get plane at a few hundred feet the size of a truck in Readington NJ off Coddington Rd as well as smaller drones over Branchburg. #drones #uap @FBI @News12NJ @PIX11News #newjersey pic.twitter.com/rgTD03YjTw
— Michael Johnson, PhD (@MichaelJoh82712) December 4, 2024
On Nov. 18, the FAA first received reports of drone activity within Morris County, the border of which lies about two miles north of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Somerset County.
There’s also a military research center and manufacturing facility in the area.
Morris and Somerset County law enforcement released a joint statement acknowledging the sightings.
“There continues to be no known threat to public safety,” the statement reads.
“County and local law enforcement agencies are aware of the recurring reports of drone activity around Morris and Somerset counties, and acknowledge the public’s concern about these repeated sightings.”
“The subject County Prosecutor’s, Sheriff’s and Emergency Management Offices, our respective municipal police departments, working in close cooperation with the FBI-Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness partners, seek to reassure the public that we will continue to monitor and investigate the drone activity.”
The FAA, upon request from “federal security partners,” issued two temporary flight restrictions (TFRs) amid several reports of drone sightings in Central Jersey.
One restriction covers an area near Solberg-Hunterdon County Airport that consists of airspace above Trump Bedminster. Flights are also banned over Picatinny Arsenal, a major U.S. Army hub in Dover, New Jersey, geared toward research and development via its armaments center.
The ban remains in place over Trump Bedminster for the rest of this week and over Picatinny Arsenal until Dec. 26.
They say the FBI office in Newark and the New Jersey State Police are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones.
In addition to the sudden number of drone sightings in New Jersey, Fox News reported that unidentified drones have been seen over British-American joint bases in the United Kingdom.
“Swarms of small drones” have been seen over Royal Air Force (RAF) Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Fairford and RAF Feltwell in England. Some of those bases house F-15 and F-35 fighter jets.
The British military sent dozens of personnel to protect the bases, and a Pentagon spokesman said Nov. 26 none of the incursions affected the base’s buildings, personnel or assets.
The FBI continues to look for help from the public to help identify the source of the drones.
“We’re asking the public to contact us through our 800 line or tips.fbi.gov,” said bureau spokeswoman Amy J. Thoreson. The tips line is 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324). For online reports, click on “submit a tip” and then use the “other FBI crimes” tab.
“As for the threat to public safety, that’s what we are trying to figure out,” she said.