Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia calls for military intervention following briefing on unexplained drone sightings
NEW JERSEY — New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia (LD24) took to “X” (formerly Twitter) to express serious concerns following a briefing at New Jersey State Police (NJSP) Headquarters on Wednesday regarding a series of mysterious drone sightings that have been reported over the past several weeks.
The briefing, attended by state and federal agencies, revealed little new information about the incidents that have occurred nightly since November 18, with sightings ranging from four to as many as 180 drones per night. Despite the ongoing investigation, the origin and intent of the drones remain unknown.
Fantasia, who attended the briefing, voiced her frustration over the lack of actionable information and criticized the response of authorities. “We know nothing. PERIOD. To say that there is no known or credible threat is incredibly misleading, and I made that sentiment clear to all officials present,” she posted on “X.” Her comments came after officials, including Laurie Doran from the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP), emphasized that there was no credible threat at this time. Fantasia also noted that Governor Phil Murphy was not in attendance at the briefing, further highlighting her concerns about the lack of leadership on the issue.
The drones, described as large—up to 6 feet in diameter—are said to operate in a coordinated manner, flying without lights, which makes them harder to detect. Despite several attempts, including helicopter deployments over Raritan Bay, NJSP has been unable to track the drones with current technology.
In her posts, Fantasia suggested that military intervention might be the only viable solution to the situation. “At this point, I believe military intervention is the only path forward. There will be no answers in the absence of proactivity,” she wrote. Fantasia also pointed out the limited authority state agencies have in dealing with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), as the federal government holds jurisdiction over any interception or takedown.
The investigation involves several agencies, including the FBI, NJSP, and the U.S. Coast Guard. However, the role of the Coast Guard in the matter remains unclear. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is also involved, though efforts to pass federal legislation regulating drones have stalled. The recent relaxation of rules allowing night flights has compounded the challenge.
Officials are encouraging the public to report any drone sightings through the “See Something, Say Something” initiative. As the drones continue to operate in unrestricted airspace, with some flying for hours at a time, the mystery surrounding their origin and intent remains unsolved.
The FBI has urged the public to report any drone sightings directly by calling 800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or emailing tips to the FBI online at tips.fbi.gov.
