The New Jersey Drone Wave

Beginning in mid-November 2024, a wave of mysterious drone sightings swept across New Jersey and the Northeastern United States. Witnesses reported car-sized objects, sometimes silent and hovering, other times emitting loud humming sounds. The objects were seen near military installations, nuclear power plants, and sensitive infrastructure. Despite joint FBI/DHS investigations, the origin and purpose of the drones remain unexplained.

The Sightings

The Beginning

November 18, 2024:

• First reports emerged from New Jersey
• Multiple witnesses in different locations
• Reports spread rapidly on social media
• Local police began receiving calls
• Pattern quickly became apparent

The Scale

The wave grew quickly:

• Reports in at least 10 New Jersey counties
• Up to 79 reports in a single overnight period
• Peak nights saw 180+ sightings
• Spread to New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland
• Eventually reported in Delaware and Florida

The Objects

Witnesses consistently described:

• Car-sized drones
• Green and red lights
• Some silent while hovering
• Others emitting loud humming
• Moving in coordinated patterns

Locations of Interest

Military Installations

Confirmed sightings near:

• Picatinny Arsenal (11+ confirmed sightings)
• Naval Weapons Station Earle (2 confirmed drone entries)
• Round Valley Reservoir
• Multiple other military-adjacent areas

Sensitive Sites

Also observed near:

• Nuclear power plants
• Trump’s Bedminster golf course
• Stewart International Airport (forced 1-hour closure December 13)
• Critical infrastructure locations

The Airport Closure

December 13, 2024:

• Stewart International Airport closed
• Duration: approximately 1 hour
• Reason: drone activity in vicinity
• First airport closure from the wave
• Demonstrated real-world impact

Official Response

FBI/DHS Joint Statement

December 12, 2024:

• “No evidence of national security threat”
• “No evidence of foreign nexus”
• Many sightings attributed to misidentified manned aircraft
• Investigation ongoing
• Hotline established for reports

White House Response

National Security Advisor John Kirby:

• Briefed on the situation
• Stated: “Nobody knows what they are”
• Acknowledged public concern
• Promised continued investigation
• No attribution announced

Local Law Enforcement

New Jersey authorities:

• Overwhelmed with reports
• Coordinated with federal agencies
• Deployed helicopters to investigate
• Confirmed many sightings genuine
• Could not identify operators

The Investigation

Federal Resources

Deployed to investigate:

• FBI field teams
• DHS investigators
• FAA coordination
• Military assets
• Intelligence community involvement

Challenges

Investigators faced:

• Sheer volume of reports
• Distinguishing drones from aircraft
• Tracking capabilities limited
• Attribution difficult
• Public pressure for answers

Ongoing Status

As of December 2025:

• No definitive source identified
• Investigation continues
• Some reports explained as misidentification
• Core phenomenon remains unexplained
• Congressional interest heightened

The Spread

Beyond New Jersey

The wave expanded:

• New York State: 66 UAP sightings in first half 2025
• Pennsylvania: multiple reports
• Maryland: sightings confirmed
• Delaware: additional reports
• Similar patterns observed

Chester, New York Incident

March 25, 2025:

• Witness walking dog at 6 PM
• Two extremely fast white orbs observed
• Flying in close formation
• Executed sharp 90-degree turn
• Transformed into dark aerodynamic ovals
• One of many continuing sightings

Public Reaction

Social Media

The wave generated:

• Viral videos across platforms
• Extensive speculation
• Community reporting groups
• Amateur investigation networks
• International attention

Media Coverage

Major outlets covered:

• The Wall Street Journal
• New York Times
• NewsNation extensive coverage
• Local news saturation
• Congressional hearing coverage

Public Concern

Citizens expressed:

• Fear about national security
• Frustration with lack of answers
• Demand for transparency
• Skepticism of official explanations
• Desire for action

Theories and Explanations

Official Positions

Authorities suggested:

• Many are misidentified aircraft
• Some are hobby drones
• Some are commercial drones
• No foreign adversary confirmed
• Most pose no threat

Alternative Theories

Public speculation included:

• Foreign surveillance operation
• Military testing (denied)
• Corporate testing
• Unknown technology
• Unexplained aerial phenomena

What We Know

Confirmed facts:

• Something flew over New Jersey
• Multiple independent witnesses
• Some sightings confirmed genuine
• Some near sensitive facilities
• Source remains unidentified

The Question

In November 2024, something appeared in the skies over New Jersey.

It wasn’t one object. It was many.

Car-sized. Coordinated. Consistent.

They flew near nuclear plants. Near military bases. Near the home of the former President.

The FBI investigated. The Department of Homeland Security got involved. The White House was briefed.

And the answer?

“Nobody knows what they are.”

That’s not conspiracy theory. That’s the National Security Advisor of the United States.

Hundreds of sightings. Thousands of witnesses. Multiple video recordings.

And still, no answer.

Were they foreign drones? Domestic testing? Something else entirely?

The New Jersey drone wave.

They came. They flew. They were seen.

And despite everything, we still don’t know what they were.

Or who sent them.

Or why.

The investigation continues.

The mystery remains.

The skies over America may never look quite the same.