The White House revealed Tuesday that the majority of mysterious drones spotted over New Jersey last year were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for research and other legitimate purposes.
The unexplained sightings, which caused public alarm and even led to an airport shutdown, sparked conspiracy theories and misinformation. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt addressed the issue during a briefing, assuring the public that “this was not the enemy” and that many drones were flown by hobbyists and private citizens, contributing to the confusion.
The panic escalated in December when drone activity forced New York Stewart International Airport to close its runways for an hour. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul called for federal intervention, citing the need for stricter regulations. Similarly, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy urged Congress to empower local law enforcement with advanced drone detection and mitigation technologies.
John Kirby, a former Defense Department official, emphasized on NBC’s “TODAY” show that these were lawful aviation activities and posed no national security threat. However, he acknowledged gaps in federal, state, and local drone regulations and called on Congress to address the growing presence of drones in U.S. airspace.
The incident highlights the need for better communication and policy-making to address the evolving role of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in public and commercial spaces.
