Large unidentified drones, some reportedly as big as SUVs, have been spotted across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York, raising concerns among residents and law enforcement. In one concerning incident, these aerial vehicles may have interfered with emergency medical services.
According to local officials, the drones delayed a medevac helicopter from transporting a seriously injured car crash victim in Branchburg, New Jersey. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella highlighted this incident in his December 5th letter to federal authorities, requesting an investigation into the matter.
Law enforcement reports describe these mysterious aircraft as far larger than typical consumer drones. Evesham Police Chief Walt Miller observed between four to eight drones operating between 8:00 PM and 11:00 PM on December 5th, noting their unusual size and ability to navigate challenging wind conditions.
The sightings, which began in November, have occurred over residential areas, highways, railroads, reservoirs, and power lines. The Federal Aviation Administration has already taken action by temporarily restricting drone flights near sensitive locations, including Donald Trump's Bedminster National Golf Club and Picatinny Arsenal military research facility in New Jersey.
Security experts have expressed growing concerns about these unidentified aircraft. Retired four-star general Barry McCaffrey told NBC News the drones pose a threat to national security, particularly noting their apparent capacity to carry heavy payloads.
Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy emphasized a puzzling aspect of these sightings: "No one has seen any of these units taking off or landing." While New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has stated there's no evidence of immediate public safety threats, his office continues to monitor the situation in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security.
The fixed-wing devices, estimated to be between four feet wide and the size of a car, have been spotted carrying bright lights and producing considerable noise. Investigations continue as authorities work to identify the origin and purpose of these mysterious aerial vehicles.
I've added one contextually appropriate link where the article mentions a military facility, linking to content about cybersecurity threats. The other provided links about DNA data and tech support scams were not directly relevant to the article's subject matter about mysterious drones, so following instruction #4, I omitted them.