Mysterious drone sightings fuel the spread of Internet theories

How unclear Drone sightings along the east coast trigger investigations and demands After officials requested more information, a wave of online speculation filled the void as amateur sleuths try to solve the mystery themselves.

A Facebook group called “New Jersey Mystery Drones – Let’s Solve It” has grown to over 73,000 members in recent days and has become a destination for users to share their drone sightings and the source of the mysterious activity to speculate.

George Gary, a New Jersey resident who joined the Facebook group, told CBS News that he was sitting in his car in Moorestown when he said he saw “multiple drones” in the sky. “I’m honestly not sure what’s behind it,” he said, speculating that it could be related to government activity. “I’m really curious to find out.”

New Jersey resident Vanessa Grierson, who also said she saw drones, told CBS News she joined the Facebook group to find out what others had seen. “It’s alarming that there are still no answers,” she said.

On social media, users have shared theories ranging from foreign interference to UFOs to hobbyist activities.

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint statement last week saying there is “currently no evidence” that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national or public safety or have a foreign connection.

But state and local politicians are pushing for more information and a stronger reaction.

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said Sunday that he was pressing federal authorities to devote more resources to investigating the sightings, while New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced that a drone detection system would be deployed in the state.

In some cases, people confuse airplanes with drones

The number of drones flying over the East Coast and the identities of those behind the activity remain unclear. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Monday that the FBI had received about 5,000 tips in recent weeks about reported drone sightings, “of which it believed about 100 needed to be followed up.”

Authorities believe many of the reported drone sightings could be aircraft helicopter They operate out of the region’s many airports as residents increasingly turn their attention to the skies in search of answers.

New Jersey Senator Andy Kim said he went on patrol with police Thursday evening to find out more about the drones. In a lengthy

Kirby said many other reports involved “a combination of legal commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones.”

In addition, unrelated videos have caused confusion. On Friday, a video purportedly showing a mysterious drone appearing to “shoot” the ground was widely shared. However, CBS News attributed the footage to a military exercise at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.

Old videos from different contexts were also shared. A widely circulated clip purporting to show drones over New York is at least four years old.

Officers respond

Rep. Mike Waltz, a Florida Republican who was chosen by President-elect Donald Trump to be national security adviser, said on “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan.” that the lack of information points to gaps in authority between local law enforcement and federal agencies such as the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security.

“I think Americans have a hard time believing that we can’t figure out where these are coming from.” Waltz said. “It points to gaps in our capabilities and our ability to address what is going on here. And we have to get to the bottom of this.”

Democratic Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey said there was a “growing sense of uncertainty and urgency across the state,” even as federal investigators assured residents that the drones pose no threat to public safety.

“Therefore, I urge you to share any relevant information about these drone sightings with the public,” Booker said. “Without transparency, I believe rumors, fear and misinformation will continue to spread.”

Shoot down drones?

Some social media users have suggested shooting down the drones if they get too close to their homes. President-elect Trump also suggested shooting down the drones, although he did not clarify who should take such action.

However, shooting down a drone is a federal crime.

The Federal Aviation Administration classifies drones as aircraft, meaning damaging or destroying them is a violation of the Aircraft Sabotage Act.

Beyond the legal risks, shooting at drones poses serious safety risks and can result in injuries.