For the past month, residents of New Jersey have been witnessing unusual lights in the night sky, leading to a surge in reported drone sightings that have piqued the interest of locals, politicians, and even President-Elect Donald Trump.

Concerned observers have reported seeing clusters of lights that resemble drones hovering over populated areas across the state. Recently, these sightings have expanded to include New York and Maryland, but government officials have yet to reassure the public.

So, what’s behind these puzzling drone sightings?

Federal agencies have attempted to calm residents by suggesting that the objects seen in the sky might not be operating with harmful intentions. The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have indicated that many of these sightings may not actually involve drones.

“In the past, we’ve seen cases where people mistook other aircraft for drones,” the agencies stated in a joint report.

The government noted that it has not confirmed the sightings. Some lawmakers in New Jersey feel there’s more to the situation than what federal officials have publicly indicated.

The uncertainty surrounding these sightings has sparked a flurry of speculation and even some far-fetched or humorous theories.

“The drone sightings in New Jersey could easily be explained. Teams must be spying on the Jets and Giants’ practices, which is why they’ve been struggling this season,” joked former NFL kicker Lawrence Tynes on X.

“First, a Chinese spy balloon crossed through U.S. airspace for a week. Now, we have unidentified drones flying over New Jersey, successfully avoiding radar. There are gaps in our airspace that are being exploited, which puts the safety of Americans at risk,” New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew stated.

Let’s delve into some possible explanations for the drone sightings and examine the supporting or opposing evidence. Since these sightings aren’t confirmed to be related, it’s also possible that various sightings stem from different sources.

Are these sightings actually drones?

Officials think that many of the reported sightings may not involve drones at all. John Kirby, National Security Communications Adviser at the White House, mentioned that many sightings have likely been of piloted aircraft operating legally.

Harry Direen, an expert in electronic and software engineering at DireenTech, believes that while some sightings may have been legitimate drone encounters, the public may now be incorrectly identifying any unrecognized aircraft as drones.

“Following what were likely genuine sightings of perhaps hobbyist drones, it’s possible that any unfamiliar aircraft are now regarded with suspicion,” he remarked.

During a news conference, Kirby stated that authorities have not been able to verify “any of the reported visual sightings,” despite employing “very advanced electronic detection technologies.”

The FBI, DHS, and our federal partners are working closely with the New Jersey State Police to investigate this matter to determine whether the noticed flights are drones or instead manned aircraft or some other misidentified sightings,” the agencies said in their report.

Could this be foreign surveillance?

This week, U.S. government officials assured the public that the aircraft seen do not appear to be from a foreign government, addressing a theory raised by Van Drew, who suggested that the drones could potentially be controlled by Iran.

According to the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, there is no proof that these drones represent a national security threat. The agencies believe the sightings may actually involve legally operated piloted aircraft and have confirmed that the sightings have occurred outside restricted airspace.

“To clarify, no malicious activity or intent has been discovered at this point,” stated the agencies in a joint statement. “While there is no known malicious conduct in New Jersey, the reported sightings raise concerns regarding the lack of sufficient existing authorities.”

Lawmakers in New Jersey shared with the Asbury Park Press, part of the YSL News Network, that they were informed by State Police that authorities are uncertain about the origins of the drones and have been unable to track them.

“I hope this turns out to be no significant issue, but it’s crucial for the federal government to provide more transparency,” voiced New Jersey Assemblyman Greg Myhre.

Are these government-operated drones?

Officials, including those from the Pentagon, affirmed that the drones being reported by residents over the past few weeks are not operated by the U.S. government or military.

According to Direen, it seems unlikely that a government organization would be flying drones in public areas.

“If they are being discreet, they are clearly failing,” he remarked.

Are Kids Just Messing Around or Hobbyists at Play?

Could it be that the drones people are spotting are simply children pulling a prank or enthusiasts enjoying their hobby? Flying drones in New Jersey is legal, but there are specific regulations that must be followed based on the drone’s size and the purpose for which it is flown, according to federal and state laws.

In that scenario, officials could easily determine what’s really going on, according to Direen.

“If the drones are being operated lawfully, the drone’s ADS-B transponder should allow authorities to track both the drone and its pilot,” he explained.

Are These UFOs?

Could these drones be extraterrestrial in origin? At this moment, officials have not provided any proof of that, nor have they disproven it. (Many reported UFO sightings are thought to have logical explanations.)

“I guess some extraterrestrial children might be flying their toy drones while their parents are busy abducting humans for experiments,” suggested Direen.