A mysterious drone crashed into a residential backyard in New Jersey on Thursday night, fueling concerns and unease over a series of unexplained aerial sightings across the state. Authorities are currently investigating the incident as locals continue to question the origins and purpose of these devices.
The crash took place around 8:45 p.m. in Pequannock Township, located in Morris County, according to police reports and dispatch audio. The unmanned drone abruptly descended from the night sky, crashing into a homeowner’s property in a quiet suburban area. In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable uptick in reports from North Jersey residents about strange drones flying through the region’s skies after dark.
The Pequannock Police Department told The New York Post that the aircraft was identified as a “hobby or toy-type drone” and clarified that it was “not a large commercial or military-grade drone.”
Emergency teams were seen at a Hillsborough shopping center, as shown in SkyFOX footage. They combed through the nearby underbrush for several hours. A local resident spoke to FOX 5 NY, saying she heard the crash and voiced growing concern about the unusual events, calling them “bizarre.” She also reported seeing multiple drones flying near her home, which is just blocks from the crash site.
While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) oversees drone regulations, authorities have yet to determine the owner or operator of the drones seen around the state. Pequannock police have not confirmed whether the drone that crashed on Thursday night is connected to previous sightings. The recent surge in unexplained drone activity has sparked widespread speculation, with theories ranging from recreational use to potential unauthorized surveillance or industrial testing.
Residents in this densely populated area, close to New York City, have voiced frustration and demanded answers. FAA regulations prohibit drones from flying at night without proper authorization, operating over private property, or flying beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight. Violations can result in fines or legal action, but enforcement remains challenging without identifying the operators.
Officials at a Navy weapons station in New Jersey also reported multiple drone intrusions into their airspace, heightening concerns amid the growing number of sightings. Naval Weapons Station Earle confirmed that they were “aware” of the incidents and emphasized their ongoing collaboration with federal and state agencies “to ensure the safety of our personnel and operations.”
Bill Addison, the public affairs officer at Naval Weapons Station Earle, told ABC News, “While no direct threats to the installation have been identified, we can confirm multiple instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle.” He added that the base was prepared to handle any potential threats, stating, “The base remains ready to respond to any possible risks, utilizing robust security measures and advanced detection systems.”
<blockquote class=”twitter-tweet”><p lang=”en” dir=”ltr”>Last night, beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital). I observed the activity for approximately 45 minutes. <br><br>Like… <a href=”https://t.co/Ipx8ctLmhs”>pic.twitter.com/Ipx8ctLmhs</a></p>— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) <a href=”https://twitter.com/GovLarryHogan/status/1867608947525386534?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>December 13, 2024</a></blockquote> <script async src=”https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″></script>
An intelligence bulletin obtained by ABC News on Friday revealed that the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety issued a warning advising that downed or landed drones “should not be approached.”
In recent months, there has been an uptick in reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unexplained aerial phenomena across the United States. On December 7, pilots in Oregon observed mysterious, fast-moving lights, and similar reports of large drones have surfaced in New Jersey since November. These events have prompted increased safety measures and calls for a temporary drone ban in the state. The Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office has investigated these phenomena, finding most to be explainable, though some remain mysterious with no evidence of extraterrestrial involvement.
Leave a Reply