By Stephen Appezzato
UPDATED Dec. 13, 2024
MIDDLETOWN – Puzzling drone sightings in New Jersey have been raising concerns among residents for weeks, with reports of strange objects flying in the night sky, particularly across North Jersey.
Now, the phenomenon appears to have moved closer to home, with several recent sightings in Monmouth County, including at least 10 incidents in Middletown. The drones, described as up to car-sized, possibly fixed-wing objects with blinking lights, have spurred heightened vigilance from authorities.
According to Middletown Mayor Tony Perry, six sightings were reported last Friday evening in the areas of Leonardo, Port Monmouth and Belford, all in close proximity to Naval Weapons Station Earle (NWS Earle). Two days later, on Sunday, four additional sightings were reported.
“Whenever you’re home to a military base… there’s always going to be extra vigilance that you need out there because there’s always going to be an increased presence of eyes on such military institutions,” Perry said.
The proximity of these incidents to NWS Earle, a critical military installation, has raised particular concerns about the potential security risks posed by the drone activity.
In response to the reports, Perry reached out to Gov. Phil Murphy and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden over the weekend. “At this moment, there’s more questions than there are answers,” Perry said. “A lot of those questions need to be dealt with by the federal Depart ment of Homeland Security,” Perry said, adding he was seeking further briefing on the matter.
Officials at NWS Earle are aware of the ongoing reports. Bill Addison, NWS Earle’s public affairs officer, told The Two River Times he knew of the drone sightings in neighboring areas.
“While no direct threats to the installation have been identified, we can confirm at least two instances of an unidentified drone entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle. The base remains prepared to respond to any potential risks, leveraging robust security measures and advanced detection capabilities,” a Dec. 12 statement read in part. “We encourage members of the community to report any suspicious activity near the base to local law enforcement,” Addison continued.
Drone sightings in New Jersey began to make headlines in mid-November, with an increasing number of reports emerging since then.
In response, temporary no-fly zones were established over Bedminster, the location of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster, and Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County. Drones are also prohibited from operating in flight-restricted airspaces, like NWS Earle, unless granted permission from the appropriate authority.
Generally, under Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) guidelines, drones must be operated below 400 feet and fly within a visual line of sight from the operator or observer at speeds under 100 miles per hour. Civilians can recreationally operate drones weighing up to 55 pounds by passing a safety test and registering their drone with the FAA, while commercial operation requires a drone license, known as a Part 107. Operating drones that weigh more than 55 pounds requires further qualification and permission from the FAA.
Despite widespread attention, many questions remain about the source, size and purpose of the drones. Local officials and law enforcement agencies are working together to gather more information, but concrete answers have proven elusive.
On Dec. 6, Monmouth County Prosecutor Raymond Santiago, in a joint statement with Spring Lake Heights Police Chief Edward Gunnell, president of the Monmouth County Police Chiefs Association, acknowledged the ongoing drone activity. The statement noted the prosecutor’s office and local police are collaborating with partner agencies to share information on the sightings. It emphasized that “the drones are not known to pose any specific threat to public safety.” This sentiment was echoed by the governor, who also addressed the issue in a social media post Dec. 4.
Meanwhile, the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office has urged both state and federal officials to take action to investigate the source of the drones. In a social media statement, Golden stressed the need for enhanced tools and greater transparency in addressing the sightings. “Additional tools are needed at the state level to identify the source, as well as more transparency federally, regarding drone operations over critical infrastructure and sensitive areas,” the statement read.
Golden further called for swift action from authorities. “We urge federal and state authorities to work together in locating the source of these drones and determining their intent,” he said. “It is essential that we address these incidents swiftly to prevent any concerns or disruptions.”
At the federal level, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4) also expressed a need for urgency in investigating the drones. During a House Homeland Security Committee hearing Dec. 10, Smith said an Ocean County Sheriff’s Office officer witnessed 50 drones “come in off the ocean” at Island Beach State Park. Smith also said a commanding officer from the U.S. Coast Guard reported a 47-foot Coast Guard boat being “followed” by between 12 and 30 drones one evening, raising security concerns.
Smith reportedly contacted a commanding officer at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and asked about the rules of engagement. “I said I know you have the capability, you’ve put out press releases, to identify and bring down drones. Why can’t you deploy them at least to the ocean, bring one of these down (and) find out who’s doing it? They have the capability (but) they said, ‘We don’t have the authority, (except) only within the parameters of our base,’ ” Smith said during the hearing.
Under federal law, it is illegal to shoot at an aircraft. Drones, while unmanned, are considered aircraft.
At this time, officials believe the drones do not pose a threat to public safety, but significant concerns still surround the occurrences.
Residents who see a drone should report it to their local police department’s nonemergency line and the FBI by calling 800-CALL-FBI (800-225- 5324) or submitting information, including video footage, online at tips.fbi.gov.
“It’s something that obviously we want our residents to be aware of. They should follow the proper protocols that law enforcement has been putting out there,” Perry said. “Any of those sightings – they should reach out to the FBI.”
As the nature of the drones and their purpose remains a mystery, local, state and federal authorities are coordinating to investigate the situation.
Editor’s note: This article was updated to include an additional response from officials at NWS Earle regarding drone sightings.
The article originally appeared in the December 12 – December 18, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
