For weeks now, New Jersey residents have reported many sightings of what they say are drones in the skies above them, and so far there has been no clear answer to what they are.
As previously reported by the Deseret News, these reports started in mid-November with the objects typically assumed to be drones.
The drone sightings have raised many questions about the origins of the aircrafts.
According to The Associated Press, the source of and reason for the drones is unknown. And both state and federal officials continue to stress that there is no known threat to public safety.
So, what are the lights people are spotting above them in New Jersey?
Potential explanations:
Some of the sightings might be small, manned aircraft mistaken for drones
According to USA Today, “government officials have said it’s likely there’s aren’t actually drones in many of the sightings.”
John Kirby, White House national security communications adviser, said a lot of the sightings are actually piloted aircraft legally flying through the airspace.
It’s possible that residents at first saw drones and now think everything they see in the air is a drone, per USA Today.
“The FBI and DHS have said they believe most of the drone sightings are cases of ‘mistaken identity,’ with members of the public misidentifying small, legally operating manned aircraft as drones,” according to CNN.
Some people believe the drones are performing surveillance for foreign governments
Many people, such as Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., have claimed that the objects are drones performing surveillance for foreign governments.
These claims have been shut down by the federal government, per USA Today.
A joint statement from the FBI and Department of Homeland Security said that there has been no evidence of a national security threat from the drones.
The agencies emphasized that the craft have not entered restricted airspace.
It’s possible that drone hobbyists are just flying their drones for fun
In New Jersey, it isn’t illegal to fly drones, but there are certain requirements outlining the size and reason for flying the drone, per USA Today.
So, it is possible that these drones could be the result of drone hobbyists flying their drones for fun or someone playing a prank.
According to USA Today, if that is the answer, then it should be easy for officials to find out.
“Some of the more recent sightings might be due to copycats flying their drones as the phenomena get more news coverage,” per CNN.
Are the drones from the U.S. government?
Another theory that has been voiced by some people is that the drones are from the U.S. government.
According to USA Today, the Pentagon and other government officials have said the sightings are not drones operated by the U.S. military or government.
It’s unlikely that a government organization or agency would fly drones over public locations, per USA Today.