The FBI And Ministry of Homeland Security said Saturday that ongoing investigations into reported drone sightings over New Jersey have found that “many of the reported drone sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being misidentified as drones.”
The investigations also found no evidence that detected drones were involved in illegal activities or malicious acts, and the United States Coast Guard found no evidence of foreign involvement offshore.
“At this point, we have found no basis to believe that there is criminal activity, that there is a threat to national security, that there is a particular threat to public safety, or that a malicious foreign actor is participating in these drones is involved,” a DHS official said.
The FBI has been investigating a whole bunch of reports of drones operating at night since mid-November, most of that are larger than those utilized by amateurs.
FBI officials said Thursday that they had seen “no evidence” that the drone sightings “pose a threat to national or public safety.”
There have been sightings at President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey, and near a military research facility.
Republican Rep. Mike Waltz of Florida, Trump's pick for national security adviser, speculated about where these drones could come from, including from the coast.
“It’s not necessarily someone standing on the other end and flying it,” Waltz said Sunday on CBS’ “Face The Nation.” “They could track pre-positioned GPS coordinates. They could be from the coast. And we need to take a close look at our home defense.”
Waltz suggested that Trump's interest in an “Iron Dome” for America must involve drones. During the campaign, Trump promised to construct something like Israel's Iron Dome or a “modern missile defense shield.”
“President Trump has spoken of an Iron Dome for America – that must also include drones. Not just enemy actions like hypersonic missiles. We need comprehensive protection of US airspace,” Waltz said.
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