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NJ Drones: Military-Grade Threats Over Critical Sites?
13 Mar
Summary
- Large drones flew in coordinated formations over critical infrastructure.
- Some drones were reportedly the size of small cars.
- Law enforcement warned drones could carry explosive payloads.
Thousands of pages of newly released documents offer a clearer picture of mysterious drone activity over New Jersey in late 2024. Police officers across the state reported spotting large, unidentified drones flying in coordinated formations, sometimes in groups exceeding a dozen.
These aircraft were frequently observed hovering over critical infrastructure, including reservoirs, power substations, research laboratories, and military facilities. Several incidents involved drones interfering with emergency operations, including forcing a medevac helicopter to abort a landing.
Reports described drones as triangular or fixed-wing, significantly larger than typical consumer models, with some estimated to be the size of a small car. Law enforcement officials repeatedly warned that these aircraft could be military-grade and potentially carry explosive payloads.
Air traffic controllers also reported unidentified drones flying through restricted airspace near Trenton-Mercer Airport at high speeds, prompting warnings to pilots. Some officials believed the drones were employing sophisticated radar jamming technology.
While some sightings were later attributed to misidentified objects, law enforcement documented dozens of unexplained incidents. Despite the extensive reports and concerns, no arrests were made, and the operators of the drones were never publicly identified.
