News / Sightings
What were the New Jersey drones?
In late 2024 thousands of people reported mysterious drones over New Jersey. This is what officials concluded, and how to tell a drone from a plane.
By Track the Unknown ·
What happened
From November 2024, residents across New Jersey reported large drones flying at night, some near military sites. Reports spread to New York and other states, and the story became national news. The Federal Aviation Administration put temporary flight restrictions in place over parts of New Jersey.
What officials said
In December 2024 the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, the FAA and the Department of Defense said they had found no evidence of a threat to national security or public safety. They said many of the sightings they reviewed were manned aircraft flying legally, along with some hobby and commercial drones and, in some cases, stars.
In January 2025 the White House press secretary said the drones people saw had been authorised by the FAA to fly for research and other purposes.
Why so many people were fooled
- Planes coming towards you look like they’re hovering. A landing light pointed at you barely moves for minutes.
- Once people start looking, they find more. Watching the sky for drones means noticing aircraft, satellites and bright planets you’d normally ignore.
- Distance is very hard to judge at night. A small drone close by and a large plane far away can look the same size.
How to tell what you saw
Planes carry a flashing white strobe plus a red light on the left wing and green on the right. Drones hover, dart and change direction, and you can often hear them. Read more: aircraft lights and drones, or check what was in your sky, including live aircraft.
Tags: Drones, New Jersey, FAA