NASA astronaut spots 'two metallic spherical orbs' flying by his airplane over Texas

• READ MORE: Nebraska police chief issues warning after UFOs terrorize his town

By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

A former NASA astronaut has come forward to reveal that he personally witnessed 'two metallic spherical orbs' whizz by his plane this August while flying above Texas.

Leroy Chiao, who served as the commander of Expedition 10 to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2004 and 2005, was 9,000 feet in the air when objects 'zipped' on the left side of his airplane.

He said one flew on top of the other and each was about three feet in diameter. 

'It's just kinda dumb luck that they didn't hit me,' said Chiao.

The former NASA astronaut estimates that the orbs were only 'about 20 feet away.' 

'It could've been a bad result, if they had actually hit me,' Chiao said. 'It happened so quick, there wasn't even a chance to get scared.'

The NASA veteran, now an engineering consultant and entrepreneur, told NewsNation that the strange metallic orbs appeared to evade detection. 

'It wasn't on radar,' he noted, 'Air traffic control certainly didn't alert me. 

'[And] it wasn't on my display that shows other airplanes that are participating with the [Federal Aviation Administration] FAA-required transponders.' 

'I don't know what it was,' the baffled former astronaut confessed.

A former NASA astronaut has come forward to reveal that he personally witnessed 'two metallic spherical orbs' whizz by his plane while flying above Texas. Above, an example of a 'metallic sphere' weather balloon included in a 2023 report by NASA's UFO advisory panel

'It's just kinda dumb luck that they didn't hit me,' said Leroy Chiao (pictured), whose NASA missions saw him serve as the commander for Expedition 10 to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2004 and 2005. Chaio believes these strange metallic orbs were a top secret drone test

Chiao unpacked the details of his odd late-summer UFO encounter to The Hill on NewsNation, stating that he 'got a good look at them' but 'only for a second.'

'I was flying back from Colorado and I had just refueled in the panhandle of Texas in my small airplane,' Chiao recalled. 

'I was flying back to Houston on an instrument flight plan,' he said, referencing a more formal set of flight rules that are coordinated with FAA air traffic control along known and pre-established flight corridors.

But with the benefit of hindsight, the former astronaut believes that these orb UFOs are still not only 'mysterious' — but that the government's lack of transparency on these and other mystery drones over sensitive US sites has 'scary' implications.

'They could tell us what they know,' Chiao opined, 'and if they really don't know, that's a little more disconcerting.'

Citizens, police and politicians have all put forward theories on who or what is behind this recent wave of drone reports — from mass hysteria to foreign spies to space aliens — Chiao said that he leans toward it being a test of top secret US tech.

'My first guess is that it's some kind of military program, a drone of some kind,' he told NewsNation, 'but you know it's hard to say, right?'

'Frankly, I think whoever was operating the drone wasn't aware that I was there.' 

Above: a leaked US military image of what appears to be a metallic-looking orb flying over Mosul, Iraq in April 2016, included in a classified briefing video on UFOs shown to multiple US government agencies - according to the UFO reporter who obtained the image, Jeremy Corbell 

While playing a 2022 military UFO video taken by an MQ-9 Reaper drone in the Mid East, Pentagon UFO-hunter Dr Sean Kirkpatrick told a NASA panel that: 'We see these ['metallic orbs'] all over the world, and we see these making very interesting apparent maneuvers'

Chao, who saw dealt with an interesting, but ultimately terrestrial 'UFO' case when he lived on board the ISS, said that he is personally concerned about some of the possible worst-case scenarios for America's late 2024 mystery drone wave.

'It is pretty mysterious,' he weighed in. 'It's hard to believe that our government doesn't really know what's going on.'

'At first blush, to me, it seems like some kind of a military program, our military,' he continued, 'and if it's not that, then it gets a little more scary.'

Chiao said that the past month of drone sightings over New Jersey and nearby states, as well as those over US military bases at home and abroad, seem 'way too widespread and organized to be some kind of a prank.'

He added that he feels the Pentagon and the rest of the federal government 'could be a little more transparent.' 

The FBI and other agencies are investigating the alleged drones, but a representative from the Department of Homeland Security said Wednesday, Dec. 11: 'We have no more information as to where these drones are coming from, where they're launching from, where they're landing'

Read More

• Drone ban in New Jersey sees restrictions in 22 towns due to 'special security reasons' 

In New Jersey, Belleville Mayor Michael Melham has also become a vocal critic of the federal government's lack of candor on the drone mystery, calling their response 'disappointing, to say the least.'

'Over 500 mayors were invited to an unprecedented 'mayors-only' briefing on such an important topic,' Mayor Melham told local network WABC last week.

'Many northern NJ mayors traveled nearly three hours round trip, on short notice, to be there,' he explained, 'only to learn what could have easily been said over a Zoom call. Many walked out.'

Journalist and author Michael Shellenberger, who testified to Congress last month on his reports of a hidden UFO data collection program, obtained a recording of the meeting, in which one NJ mayor complained of SUV-sized drones.

'The mayors are livid,' Shellenberger told Fox News. 'One of them got up there and said, 'I had two automobile-sized drones hovering over my house.'' 

Metallic orb UFOs have been the most common type of case reported by US military witnesses according to the first director of the Pentagon's UFO-hunting All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), ex-CIA physicist Dr Sean Kirkpatrick. 

'We see these ['metallic orbs'] all over the world,' Dr Kirkpatrick told NASA's UFO advisory group last year, 'and we see these making very interesting apparent maneuvers.'

After mysterious bright lights, according to AARO's most recent annual report, orb or spherical UFOs were still the most commonly reported this year at 22 percent of all US military sightings. 

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

21-12-2024 om 22:29 geschreven door peter  

Area 51 secrets to be revealed 'in 2025' by classified projects specialist

• READ MORE: Secret US Army study hints we're living in a holographic universe

By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Area 51's 'literally out of this world' UFO secrets might finally come to light sometime next year.

Jim Goodall, an aviation journalist with firsthand sources who have worked at the classified base, gave an interview in the mid-1990s where he discussed top-secret technologies at the site that 'would make George Lucas envious.'

'One gentleman spent 12 of his 30 years in black programs at Groom Lake [as Area 51 is also known],' Goodall explained in the unearthed documentary interview.

'I asked him, 'Can you really tell me what's happening out there?'' he continued.

'And he said, 'Well, there's a lot of things going on there that I won't be able to tell you until the year 2025.''

The mention of '2025' could refer to an executive order by then-President Bill Clinton, which established a 25-year timer for the 'automatic declassification' of government secrets. 

This means many top-secret projects from the 1990s could soon be declassified.

Area 51 is just one of many sensitive military facilities located within the US Air Force's Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), a sprawling military training area in Nevada's Mojave Desert.

The shroud of secrecy surrounding Area 51 has fueled widespread conspiracy theories about its true purpose, including claims that it houses captured or crashed UFOs.

Above, a satellite view of Area 51. The United States Air Force facility is a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base, within the Nevada Test and Training Range

UFO enthusiasts are pouring over comments Goodall (pictured) made in the mid-'90s, quoting his anonymous sources. One Area 51 source told him, 'I won't be able to tell you until the year 2025. But we have things in the Nevada desert that would make George Lucas envious'

In the resurfaced interview, Goodall recounted a conversation with a 'safety specialist' and US Air Force chief master sergeant who worked at the Nevada test site. 

The specialist reportedly told him: 'We have things out there that are literally out of this world… better than Star Trek.' or anything you can see in the movies.'

When Goodall asked his anonymous source, 'Do you believe in UFOs?' the answer was unequivocal.

'He looked at me with a straight face, one-on-one, and said, 'Absolutely. Positively. They do exist,'' Goodall recalled in the documentary. 

'I said, 'Can you expand upon that?' And he replied, 'No, I can't.''

From his vantage point spying on Area 51 in the Nevada desert, Goodall caught glimpses and heard firsthand accounts of exotic craft that defied conventional understanding.

'There is a stealth or low-observable electronic warfare aircraft. It's been referred to as 'Excalibur,'' he said in the interview.

'There's an aircraft designed to fly very, very high, but also very, very slow and incredibly quiet,' he add.

A rendering of the metallic egg-shaped UFO is seen. 'X-rays couldn't penetrate it; it showed up on X-ray as a solid object. They tried to open it and penetrate its hull; they couldn't,' Taber said

Goodall also discussed how witnesses near the Skunk Works facility reported seeing three triangle-shaped craft that made 'no noise,' even when flying at relatively low altitudes.

He then shared reports of an aircraft tracked by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) out of the San Francisco Bay Area TRACON (Traffic Control) in Oakland, California. 

This craft, spotted at least eight times since 1986, reportedly flew through controlled airspace at speeds exceeding 10,000 miles per hour. 

'And it's a very, very large aircraft at that,' he added.

Goodall's accounts align with claims made on the record by Ben Rich, the late director of Lockheed Martin's classified Skunk Works division.

'Ben Rich told me twice before he died,' Goodall recounted, ''We have things at Area 51 that you and the best minds in the world won't even be able to conceive of for another 30 or 40 years—and they won't be made public for another 50.''

Rich died on January 5, 1995. 

But Goodall today noted that Area 51 has become much more difficult to penetrate than during his 1990s heyday — which might indicate it will hold on to its secrets well beyond 2025, matching a timeline closer to Rich's 50-year window.

'That veil is pretty thick today,' Goodall told Las Vegas TV news reporter George Knapp in 2019. 'The security around Area 51 is thicker than we've ever seen.'

In 2021, private pilot and amateur photographer Gabe Zeifman nabbed this image of a triangle craft while flying his own plane past the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), past Papoose Dry Lake, and past Groom Lake which is home to Area 51

Above: a collection of once 'top secret' aircraft made by Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works for the US military over the years 

Read More

EXCLUSIVE

•  UFO swarms filmed buzzing Area 51 and other US military sites for months after 'mothership' cases 

Last year, defense aerospace contractor Eric Taber told to DailyMail.com that a close relative who worked as an Area 51 contractor, Sam Urquhart, had revealed that he had worked on strange 'egg-shaped' spacecraft at the mysterious desert base.

This egg-shaped metallic UFO was kept at Area 51 in the 1980s, after the CIA found the strange craft in the desert, according to Taber. 

'It was egg-shaped, about the size of an SUV, smooth and seamless, metallic-looking, silverish gray in color, with no control surfaces, no flaps, no inlet, and no exhaust, and no writing or symbols on the outside,' Taber was told by his late great uncle Urquhart. 

Other claims of alien craft housed at Area 51 have included the so-called 'Fluxliner' or Alien Reproduction Vehicle (ARV), a man-made reverse-engineered alien spacecraft uncovered by an aerospace industry illustrator in 1988.

In 2021, Gabriel Zeifman captured an image of a triangular craft that might have been a UFO or might have been a man-made craft capable of hypersonic flight.

The craft was parked just a 120-feet wide by 320-feet long shelter at Area 51 that has been identified in the past as Hangar 19.

Defense industry watchers at The War Zone speculated that the triangle might have been an actual known hypersonic aircraft, called the Martin Marietta X-24B. 

'Although its odd shape is intriguing,' the site noted, 'most things that fly out of Groom under a secretive test regime look alien, at least historically speaking.'

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

21-12-2024 om 22:08 geschreven door peter  

Interactive map reveals disturbing pattern in drone sightings across the US

• READ MORE:  Joe Rogan stunned by Navy pilot's explanation for NJ drones

By ELLYN LAPOINTE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

An interactive map has revealed a disturbing pattern in drone sightings across the US.

An unexplained drone invasion has targeted America's military bases worldwide since October, beginning with a swarm over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia.

The pattern became evident when similar activity was reported over New Jersey's Picatinny Arsenal on November 18.

Less than one week later, US bases in England and Germany began grappling with incursions by 'small unmanned aerial systems.'

Back in America sightings were gaining traction. 'Multiple' instances of drones appeared over New Jersey's Navy weapons station, and Ohio's Wright-Patterson Air Force Base closed its airspace due to similar activity on December 13.

The list of affected bases continues to grow, with one in Texas joining the ranks after drones were spotted on December 18. 

In White Settlement —home to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth and Lockheed Martin—residents and police officers observed drones flying in formation about 100 feet in the air, sometimes hovering in groups of six. 

Christopher Cook, police chief in White Settlement, said: 'We haven't seen the formation of drones like that before.'

Drones were spotted over White Settlement, a suburb of Fort Worth in North Texas that is home to the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, this week

The White House said the sightings near or over the Department of Defense (DoD) 'are not new.' 

'DoD takes unauthorized access over its airspace seriously and coordinates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as appropriate,' the statement continued.

The Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Federal Aviation Administration and the FBI released a joint statement on the matter this week.

'A combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones,' the agencies said.

While the White House said drones have long been infiltrating airspace over bases, none have appeared to gain the attention of those witnessed in the last few months.

The sightings started at Langley Air Force base when top Pentagon officials were baffled by a swarm of mystery drones that carried on for 17 days.

One or two fixed-wing drones flew more than 100 feet in the air as smaller quadcopters, the size of 20 commercial drones, flew slower and below them and occasionally hovered. 

They were preceded by a drone estimated to be 20 feet long and flying 100 miles per hour at altitudes up to 4,000 feet. 

The drones were nearly impossible to catch, despite the Air Force's vast resources, according to Gen. Mark Kelly, a decorated senior commander at the airbase. 

Sightings over US military bases began as early as October, as several reports indicated drones near Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia

Those were followed by drone presence at New Jersey's Picatinny Arsenal in mid-November

Since the sightings over New Jersey's Picatinny Arsenal in Rockaway began last month, the army research and manufacturing facility has reported 11 drone incursions.

A Picatinny Arsenal spokesperson told DailyMail.com: 'We can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal or DEVCOM Armaments Center (formerly ARDEC) directed actions.'

Shortly after, reports began to emerge at US bases in England and Germany. 

From November 20 to 26, 'small unmanned aerial systems' were spotted in the vicinity of and over three US bases Norfolk and Suffolk counties, England: RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall and RAF Feltwell.

Just two weeks later, unidentified drones were spotted over the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany on December 3 and 4.

About ten days later, the Joint Staff of the Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County stated they were aware of reports of drones entering the base's airspace, though the exact timing of the incursions is unknown.

Bill Addison, public affairs officer for the naval station, said in a statement to 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.

'The base remains prepared to respond to any potential risks, leveraging robust security measures and advanced detection capabilities.' 

That same day, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base just east of Dayton, Ohio temporarily closed its airspace due to drone sightings. 

New Jersey's Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County reported on December 13.

Wright-Patterson Air Force Base just east of Dayton, Ohio temporarily closed its airspace due to drone sightings on December 13

Bob Purtiman, chief of public affairs for the 88th Air Base Wing at Wright-Patterson, said the 'small unmanned aerial systems' were monitored by officials during the shutdown.

'To date, installation leadership has determined none of the incursions impacted base residents, facilities or assets,' Purtiman told DailyMail.com.

In a recording of the air traffic control tower at the base posted on YouTube by The War Zone, a controller tells pilots to 'use extreme caution' due to 'heavy UAS activity' above. UAS stands for 'unmanned aircraft system.'

Wright-Patterson is located around five miles outside the city of Dayton in west Ohio. It's home to critical US Air Force commands, including the Air Force Research Lab. 

And this week, FBI launched an investigation into drones that flew near Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in Texas. 

In an X post, White Settlement Police Department (WSPD) Chief Christopher Cook said his officers saw 'drones in the area flying near Bomber Road, Silver Creek, and N. Las Vegas Trail.'

The WSPD trying to locate the operator following multiple reports from the public. 

'Out of an abundance of caution, reports have been initiated and we are working with the FBI, NCIS, and Air Force OSI to determine the flight trajectories and who was piloting the unmanned aircraft,' Cook added.

'While we do not believe there were any immediate threats related to last night's activities, it is concerning due to operating in 'NO FLY ZONES' near federal and military properties.'

The drones aren't just targeting military bases. Sightings in civilian communities have been widespread throughout the Northeast, with more than 5,000 reports across the country over the last month. 

Citizens, law enforcement and government officials have all put forward theories as to who or what is behind the wave of drone reports — ranging from mass hysteria to foreign espionage, space aliens to the covert hunt for a loose nuclear bomb.

Despite mounting concern among residents and officials of communities affected by this bizarre drone 'invasion,' federal officials have repeatedly stated that there is no evidence to suggest the drones pose any threat to national security or public safety. 

But multiple state officials have suggested that these drones could be conducting surveillance for foreign adversaries such as Iran, China and Russia. 

Some politicians have even urged the military to shoot them down, including President-elect Donald Trump.

'Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country,' the Republican wrote on the social media site Truth Social on December 13.

'Can this really be happening without our government's knowledge. I don't think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT.'

Members of the public have also taken to social media to share countless photos and videos of what they believe to be drones or UAPs in their communities, and to express frustration over the federal government's response to these sightings. 

Some have begun taking matters into their own hands by pointing lasers or even shooting at the drones, especially in New Jersey, which has become a hotspot for drone activity. 

In a stern warning to the public, New Jersey's State Police and the FBI's Newark office have insisted the public stop trying to take down the state's mystery drones.

Whether the investigation into this most recent sighting over White Settlement reveals new information about the operator — or operators — behind these drones remains to be seen. 

If there are any further sightings near military installations or other sensitive areas in the US, that could also help investigators narrow down the purpose of and potential level of threat posed by these aircraft.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

21-12-2024 om 21:32 geschreven door peter  

EXCLUSIVE - Dozens of SUV-sized drones as fast as 120mph terrorized our town's livestock

• READ MORE: Interactive map reveals mystery drone hotspots amid FBI warnings

By MATTHEW PHELAN SENIOR SCIENCE REPORTER and CHRIS SHARP and MATT FORD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

The police chief of a small Nebraska city has come forward with a warning for New Jersey after his community was terrorized by mystery drones.

Ord, Nebraska Police Chief Chris Grooms revealed to DailyMail.com how Valley County, NE, and its surrounding regions, were besieged for weeks from December 2019 into January 2020 by 'upwards of 40-50' drone UFOs at a time. 

Across nearly three weeks of nighttime encounters, typically between 7pm and 11pm, these inexplicable SUV-sized drones operated 'with impunity,' Chief Grooms said, and sometimes seemed to be 'toying with law enforcement.'

'A lot of reports by ranchers stated that these objects were harassing their horses or cattle on a nightly basis,' he added. Some of the drones reached speeds of 120mph.

The police chief said he 'finds it alarming' that the White House is insisting that the 'drone incursion over New Jersey is not a known threat' — particularly given that the size, shape and behavior of Nebraska's mystery drones matched those in Jersey.

While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) looked into some of Nebraska's drone cases, part of a wave that covered Colorado and Kansas, all the agency could do was confirm with 'high confidence' that the craft were 'not covert military activities.'

While the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has downplayed the risks posed by these drones, their calming words have been contradicted by US military base officials, New Jersey mayors and NJ's state Coast Guard, among others.

Although misidentifications of conventional planes have been rife amid the growing public panic, reports by from US military officials across America and Europe, alongside local police, have told matching accounts of these car-sized drones.

Nebraska's 2019 and 2020 'drone swarms' resembled cases seen penetrating the highly restricted airspace above Langley Air Force Base in Virginia in 2023. Above, a photo taken by an eyewitness of one of these Langley drones - provided to the Wall Street Journal and others

Ord, Nebraska Police Chief Chris Grooms (above) told DailyMail.com: 'I find it alarming [...] to think that the US government is telling us that the [...] drone incursion over New Jersey is not a known threat.' Cheap drones, he noted, have proven deadly on the battlefield in Ukraine

Chief Grooms told DailyMail.com his office ultimately reached out to US Strategic Command (STRATCOM), the Pentagon group responsible for missile defense and nuclear deterrence, as well as the FBI, Nebraska State Patrol and the National Guard.

'All those agencies told us they didn’t know what they were,' he recalled, 'or stated that it was not their equipment.'

'It was starting to really irritate people that there was nothing we could do about it.' 

Soon, he said, multiple cases emerged of the apparent drones 'shining beams of light on their homes and livestock.'

These bright lights — beaming onto cattle in the dead of night — would spur the animals to flee beyond their enclosures in certain cases, forcing ranchers to go on a hunt to retrieve them the next morning.

As cases mounted of the drone swarms 'harassing ranchers and their livestock,' Chief Grooms recalled, many local police across multiple counties feared that ranchers would soon start to take matters into their own hands.

'The ranchers [said] "If these things keep messing with my horses and I gotta go round up my cattle every morning [and] if the government's not going to look into it and doing anything, we're just going to try and shoot 'em down,"' Grooms recalled. 

In 2019 and 2020, the police chief was then a deputy to Valley County Sheriff's Office, which protects the towns surrounding the city of Ord where he now serves.

As he remembers, multiple police and sheriff's departments also became worried that locals might get into car accidents 'when people were trying to find these things themselves [...] running across the highways, running stop signs.' 

Above, a swarm of drones that was apparently captured on camera a few miles outside Omaha, Nebraska - three hours east of Ord and Valley County - but taken in the same December 2019 to January 2020 time frame as Police Chief Grooms' own baffling local cases

According to one NJ local, this image depicts roughly nine of the unidentified drones flying in to the Garden State from the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday night, December 5, 2024

A US Army vet with the 82nd Airborne, who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, Chief Grooms noted that most Americans are well aware of how dangerous even a small cheap drone can be — given their routine, deadly use in the war in Ukraine. 

'A simple drone with just a few pounds of explosives connected to it,' he said, 'can bring down a small structure or take out a tank.'

And, in recent weeks, Chief Grooms noted that he would step down from his role as the police chief for Ord, NE, to pursue a US military support role with a private firm.

In one 911 call report, obtained by DailyMail.com, a rural resident of Lincoln County told police she witnessed 'seven drones flying directly over her house' and that these 'suspicious drones' were moving 'east and west' in a coordinated fashion.

The witness described the seven mystery drones 'as having red, green and white flashing lights' as they buzzed her property over two nights in early January 2020.

The drone swarm's lighting colors, as well as the its behavior, match those that later made repeated brazen incursions over the restricted airspace above Air Force joint-base Langley-Eustis in Virginia, then home to America's stealth F-22 fighter fleet.

For at least 17 nights in December 2023, swarms of these noisy, small UFOs were also seen at dusk 'moving at rapid speeds' and 'flashing red, green, and white lights.'

And these cases are almost identical to what has been reported above sensitive sites in New Jersey, like the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal. 

Base police have reported 11 confirmed and unauthorized drone sightings over the arsenal since November 13, meaning security officers 'visibly witnessed a drone.'

But the White House has continued to minimize these cases — with a joint statement released Tuesday from DHS, FBI, FAA and the Pentagon claiming that they 'do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk.'

In one 911 call report, obtained by DailyMail.com, a resident of Lincoln County told police she witnessed 'seven drones flying directly over her house' and the 'suspicious drones' moved 'east and west' in coordinated fashion. Lincoln is southwest of Chief Groom's own county

Police Chief Grooms told DailyMail.com that he too had witnessed a similar mystery drone with red and green lights, just a few days prior on December 28th, 2019. 

At the time, Grooms then-boss Valley County Sheriff Hurlburt also dealt with the drone invasion, witnessing this incident alongside him. 

'Upon linking up with the Sheriff,' Chief Grooms recalled of the Dec 28th encounter, 'we decided to pursue the object the best we could by going westbound on 799th Rd, Gravel Rd, towards the object.' 

'While we traveled westbound in our patrol trucks the object clearly knew our intentions,' he said. 'It had picked up speed to avoid us.' 

'I will note that I found it to be odd or suspicious that the object was clearly avoiding us but at the same time it never veered away from the gravel roads. It always paralleled the gravel roads,' Chief Grooms continued, 'as if it was toying with us.'

Local and national news covered this wave of drones sightings in Colorado, Kansas and Nebraska in late 2019 and 2020. Sheriff's deputies in other parts of Nebraska told the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that they witnessed the drones coordinating with a 'mothership'

Sheriff Hurlburt and then-Deputy Grooms chased the 'large drone' in two vehicles from two different lines of sight, as it flew about 20 miles south of Ord near the Davis Creek Reservoir.

'While witnessing this object in the sky I noted that it had red and green blinking lights and was hovering and maneuvering slowly west of Ashton Ave,' Grooms recalled.

'If it really wanted to avoid us completely the object could have just veered away from the gravel roads,' he noted, 'to where we wouldn’t have been able to pursue the object any longer.' 

As former senior Pentagon security official Chris Mellon told DailyMail.com, speaking of the 2023 Langley base incursions, Chief Grooms' encounters also fit 'part of a much larger pattern.'

'These craft are making no effort to remain concealed,' Mellon noted. 'In fact, in some instances, it is clear they want to be seen as though taunting us.'

Valley County dealt with much stranger cases alongside their weeks-long invasion of these mysterious night flights, however, similar to those cases where the drones were 'messing around with ranchers, cattle and whatnot.'

A US Army vet with the 82nd Airborne - who served in both Iraq and Afghanistan - Chief Grooms noted that most Americans are well aware of how dangerous even a small cheap drone can be, given their routine use in the war in Ukraine. Above, Chief Grooms in his Army uniform

Chief Grooms - above right when he was a deputy with Valley County Sheriff in 2020 - gave the following assessment: 'With what I have seen and what other LEO's [law enforcement officers] have told me [...] these objects had a mission and purpose and a well-funded budget' 

Chief Grooms recalled being close enough to the craft to be unsettled by the fact that they produced 'no noise.'

And, he said, his law enforcement colleagues also were blasted with the same incredibly bright lights as Nebraska's livestock themselves.

'I was told by a sheriff who had two deputies with him that a large object that they pursued at upwards of 120mph had stopped and hovered not far from their patrol trucks,' Chief Grooms said. 

'As the sheriff and his deputies went to shine their search lights on the object,' he continued, 'the object shined a bright light on them as well [...] it seemed like daylight all around them for about 150 to 300 yards.'

'The light was so bright they had to look away,' Chief Grooms said.

This drone, the sheriff told him, the was about the size of a Chevrolet Suburban.

Journalist and author Michael Shellenberger, who testified to Congress last month on his reports of a hidden UFO data collection program, has obtained a recording where New Jersey mayors have complained of similarly SUV-sized drones. 

The recording documented a White House drone briefing for New Jersey mayors with presentations by the FBI, DHS and FAA.

'The mayors are livid,' Shellenberger told Fox News. 'One of them got up there and said, "I had two automobile-sized drones hovering over my house."'

The FBI and other agencies are investigating the strange activity. One representative from the Department of Homeland Security said on December 11: 'We have no more information as to where these drones are coming from, where they're launching from, where they're landing'

Above, a military witness testifies to the drones displaying 'flashing red, green, and white lights' above AFB joint-base Langley-Eustis in December 2023. This testimony was released via the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), along with 50 pages of other Air Force records

For his part, Chief Grooms is most open to the theory that the so-called 'mystery drones' are either a secretive government program or some form of nonhuman, 'unidentified aerial phenomena' (UAP). 

'I do not believe these UAP/drones could be a foreign adversary due to the fact of how far inland Nebraska is,' he told DailyMail.com. 'If it is a foreign adversary, the US government has failed the citizens of the United States.' 

'These UAP/drones are showing up in great numbers of 30 or more,' the career law enforcement officer and veteran said, 'imagine the damage that could be done if they all dispersed to their locations with intent to do harm.'

Chief Grooms noted that, given the volume of cases in 2019 and 2020, which stretched around a 100-mile radius of quiet, rural Valley County, he has a hard time imagining what the purpose of a secret US military operation would be.

'With what I have seen and what other LEO's [law enforcement officers] have told me [...] these objects had a mission and purpose and a well-funded budget,' he said.

'If these UAP/drones are US military or private contracting technology, then what exactly was its purpose over Nebraska in 2019?' he asked. 

'Other than to burden its citizens and waste local taxpayer dollars on 911 calls and take law enforcement away from its normal duties.'

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

21-12-2024 om 01:24 geschreven door peter  

Drone-a-palooza: George Knapp Investigates the Mystery Swarms Over America

In recent months, skies across the United States have become the stage for an unusual and perplexing phenomenon—swarms of unidentified drones. From Nevada to New Jersey, these mysterious objects have captured the attention of millions, sparking debates, fears, and extensive investigations. Veteran journalist George Knapp has delved into what he terms “drone-a-palooza,” providing an in-depth analysis of these events and their implications.

A Troubling Pattern of Intrusions

The current wave of drone sightings is not an isolated occurrence. One year ago, a similar incident unfolded at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia. Despite having some of the most advanced tracking technology in the world, the base’s personnel were unable to identify or deter dozens of drones infiltrating restricted airspace over a two-week period. This inability to manage the incursions raises serious questions about military readiness and the evolving capabilities of these objects.

A notable case occurred in July 2019, when more than 100 unidentified objects swarmed ten U.S. Navy warships off the Pacific coast. These objects, documented through multiple sensors, displayed characteristics that defied conventional drone technology, including wingless designs and a lack of visible propulsion systems. The Pentagon initially dismissed them as benign drones, but their unusual behavior has fueled ongoing speculation.

The Rising Tide of Reports

The frequency and scale of these drone sightings have expanded dramatically, with reports now pouring in from states including Florida, Texas, California, Oregon, and New Jersey. Social media platforms are inundated with videos of these aerial anomalies, ranging from what appear to be ordinary drones to SUV-sized objects exhibiting inexplicable flight patterns.

In New Jersey, for example, state officials received briefings confirming that these drones are not operated by the U.S. government or foreign adversaries. Yet, authorities admitted their inability to track the drones’ origins or destinations, leaving the public uneasy. Similarly, air traffic at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base—notable for its rumored connection to the Roswell crash of 1947—was disrupted due to drone intrusions, adding a historical irony to the situation.

Speculation and Uncertainty

The lack of credible explanations has opened the floodgates to speculation. Some suggest that these drones might be espionage tools from foreign powers like Russia, China, or Iran. Others posit more unconventional theories, such as covert government operations to detect nuclear materials or even extraterrestrial involvement. While officials have dismissed these claims as baseless, inconsistencies in their statements have undermined public trust.

For instance, the Pentagon initially denied any verified drone intrusions into restricted airspace but later admitted to multiple incidents, including over two military bases in New Jersey and a nuclear power plant. Prior to this, drones had been observed in the highly restricted airspace over three critical air bases in the United Kingdom. These revelations only add to the growing unease about the security and surveillance implications of such incidents.

Challenges for National Security

The inability to track and neutralize these drones underscores a significant vulnerability in national security. Modern military sensors, once capable of tracking objects as small as golf balls over vast distances, seem ill-equipped to handle these new threats. This inadequacy has prompted questions about whether these drones represent a deliberate test of U.S. defenses—a test the military appears to be failing.

Observers, including Knapp, have noted the unsettling signal this sends to potential adversaries. If foreign powers are indeed responsible, their apparent ability to infiltrate sensitive areas without consequence is a worrying development. On the other hand, if these drones are merely advanced hobbyist creations or corporate tools, their impact on military and civilian airspace highlights the urgent need for better regulatory measures and tracking technologies.

The Broader Implications

For many, these incidents evoke parallels with the UFO phenomena long studied by enthusiasts and researchers. The dismissive tone adopted by some officials mirrors the skepticism that has historically surrounded UFO investigations. However, the high-profile nature of these drone swarms has forced authorities to take the issue more seriously, even as answers remain elusive.

Knapp highlights the irony of local officials, military personnel, and lawmakers now grappling with the same kind of bureaucratic stonewalling that UFO researchers have faced for decades. The frustration is palpable, with one state legislator describing a recent briefing as “the biggest amateur hour presentation I’ve ever seen.”

VIDEO:

The “drone-a-palooza” phenomenon analyzed by George Knapp underscores a pressing need for transparency, accountability, and innovation in addressing unidentified aerial phenomena. Whether these objects are cutting-edge technology from foreign adversaries, advanced domestic creations, or something entirely unexplained, their presence over critical infrastructure and restricted airspace demands immediate action.

As the mystery deepens, the public’s patience wears thin. What remains clear is that these drones are not just a passing curiosity but a challenge that spans technology, national security, and public trust. Until concrete answers emerge, the skies over America will continue to inspire both wonder and concern.

{ https://www.latest-ufo-sightings.net/ }

21-12-2024 om 00:45 geschreven door peter  

Here’s the truth behind 6 of the most widely circulated mystery drone videos - PART I

The most widely-viewed videos many claim show mysterious drones hovering over New Jersey and New York show clear signs of what they actually are, according to three drone and aeronautics experts who spoke to The Post.

The drones in New Jersey night skies were first flagged Nov. 13, hovering in airspace not far from the Picatinny Arsenal military facility in Wharton, NJ.

Since then reports of strange flashing orbs, statically hovering craft and silent low-flying crafts with distinctive lights have been spotted, some the size of mini-SUVs, and recorded on video by bystanders across the tri-state area.

Theories about the origins of the suspected drones include that they’ve been sent by foreign rivals including Iran or China.

The activity prompted the FBI to open an investigation, but the agency warned earlier this week although they have received over 5,000 reports of drone sightings, less than 100 warranted further investigation.

The Post showed six of the most widely circulated drone videos to three experts, who explained how amidst the hysteria, the truth is usually a lot simpler than people want to think.

Those experts are: Captain Ross “Rusty” Aimer, a retired United Airlines pilot who is now CEO of Aero Consulting experts, Seth J. Frantzman, author of “Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future” and retired pilot, Captain Richard J. Levy who is now CEO of Aviation Expert Consulting.

Video 1: Mysterious floating orb

“It’s hard to tell what this is because of the quality, it could be a planet or star or even an engine of an aircraft. As with many of the sightings, it’s difficult to tell because of the quality of the video,” said Frantzman.

Aimer added: “That is a bad focus to me of a lighted object. It looks like it could be a lighted drone but it looks like a picture that is way out of focus, a lighted subject.

“This one is very blurred. It could be distorted lights on a drone or a helicopter but the picture is not very good, so it’s impossible to say,” said Levy, who has 41 years of flying experience in the US.

Social media users have also pointed out this video, although filmed by a reputable news crew, is likely a trick of the light on a camera lens.

Video 2: Lights cruise over rooftop

Frantzman said: “This appears to be a plane and it is has the types of lights one would expect on an aircraft. Even if it is a drone, it appears to be flying with lights which implies it is not trying to do anything nefarious.

Do you have footage of drones over the skies of New Jersey or New York? Send it to The Post at drones@nypost.com.

“If they were nefarious, like Chinese drones or Iranian drones coming to spy, you’d expect you wouldn’t see them conducting illegal surveillance,” he added.

“At first it could have been an aircraft, but when the aircraft went over the photographer, it slowed down tremendously. It’s maybe an optical illusion or it could have been a drone. I couldn’t say positively,” added Levy.

Video 3: Triangle of lights in the night sky

Frantzman said this video appeared quite clearly to be a plane.

Aimer explained: “In a commercial aircraft you must have certain types of lights to operate between dawn and dusk. One is position lights – a green and red light on each wing tip and a tail light. Then there are strobe lights at the top and bottom of the aircraft which are usually red, and there are high intensity strobe lights that must be on day and night.

“In my opinion, these Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) are being flown by ‘monkey see, monkey do’ guys trying their new remote drone systems that are small enough not to require registration, without knowing the rules and regulations. They’re probably trying to look for and catch one of these mysterious drones they’ve been hearing about. That’s why all of a sudden we see more reports of these UAS.”

Frantzman also said: “Look at flight tracking sites, the airspace is very crowded, and people should understand when they look up they’re going to see all sorts of phenomena so identifying everything they see as an unmanned aircraft is probably a mistake.”

{ https://nypost.com/ }

18-12-2024 om 22:10 geschreven door peter  

Here’s the truth behind 6 of the most widely circulated mystery drone videos -PART II

The most widely-viewed videos many claim show mysterious drones hovering over New Jersey and New York show clear signs of what they actually are, according to three drone and aeronautics experts who spoke to The Post.

The drones in New Jersey night skies were first flagged Nov. 13, hovering in airspace not far from the Picatinny Arsenal military facility in Wharton, NJ.

Since then reports of strange flashing orbs, statically hovering craft and silent low-flying crafts with distinctive lights have been spotted, some the size of mini-SUVs, and recorded on video by bystanders across the tri-state area.

Theories about the origins of the suspected drones include that they’ve been sent by foreign rivals including Iran or China.

The activity prompted the FBI to open an investigation, but the agency warned earlier this week although they have received over 5,000 reports of drone sightings, less than 100 warranted further investigation.

The Post showed six of the most widely circulated drone videos to three experts, who explained how amidst the hysteria, the truth is usually a lot simpler than people want to think.

Those experts are: Captain Ross “Rusty” Aimer, a retired United Airlines pilot who is now CEO of Aero Consulting experts, Seth J. Frantzman, author of “Drone Wars: Pioneers, Killing Machines, Artificial Intelligence, and the Battle for the Future” and retired pilot, Captain Richard J. Levy who is now CEO of Aviation Expert Consulting.

Video 4: Taken from a plane window as it prepares to land

A supposed drone captured close to the flightpath of a plane coming in to land at LaGuardia airport in New York. Various online sources have since pinpointed it as another plane.

tryingtobuildapc1234/Reddit

The experts all agreed this was a video of a plane passing another.  

“Even if it is a type of unmanned drone, which is unlikely, the fact it is flying with lights at night indicates it is flying within the types of regulations one would expect an aircraft to do in civilian airspace,” said Frantzman.

Online sleuths even claimed they had managed to pinpoint where the video, from Dec 14. was taken by looking at the ground visible in the video and the time. They also identified the two planes involved, a United plane from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, to Newark and a Delta flight from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to LaGuardia. The original poster of the video also later acknowledged the data matches.

Video 5: Dual floating beacons  

“The quality of the video makes it difficult to make out what type of aircraft or even stars or planets are in it, but it would appear to be planes, planets or stars,” said Frantzman, hedging his bets.

He added: “Look at flight tracking sites, the airspace is very crowded, and people should understand when they look up they’re going to see all sorts of phenomena so identifying everything they see as an unmanned aircraft is probably a mistake.”

The other experts agreed that the video was taken too far away to say for certain what the objects in the sky were or how they were moving.

Aimer explained that if the craft were posing any significant threat to security, they wouldn’t be there for long.

“If any regular aircraft violates Temporary Flight Restriction (TFR) areas or the permanent ones like at Air Force bases they deploy fighter jets to escort that intruder out or sometimes have orders to shoot that aircraft down.

“I’m not really worried about these drones because if they posed a danger, we have the technology to detect that, deal with them and shoot them.

“Anytime there is any possible danger, believe me they will shoot them down, there’s no question about it.

“They could read that digital license plate on the drone and go look for the owner.  It can be read remotely by simply an app on your cell phone.

“If they can’t read its digital license plate, they take other measures like sending a fighter jet to scramble or shoot it down if it becomes dangerously close to some place they don’t want you to fly, like the White House.”

Video 6: Mysterious vapors, more seemingly floating objects   

A vapor trail in the sky highlighted by one spotter as suspicious

AP/Trisha Bushey/Christopher Stadulis

“Anyone can tell it’s an airliner — that is the only one where it is absolutely clear it is an aircraft,” said Levy.

“The quality of the video makes it difficult to determine what is being seen, but it appears likely to be planes, manned aircraft,” said Frantzman.

“The government should be better about what we can expect to see in the night sky. They have let people work themselves up into a hysteria they don’t need to be in,” Frantzman added.

{ https://nypost.com/ }

18-12-2024 om 21:59 geschreven door peter  

The ongoing mystery surrounding recent drone sightings has become increasingly complex, with conflicting reports making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. However, a new and intriguing element has emerged alongside these drones sightings: numerous accounts of mysterious orbs, potentially of alien origin, flying at both low and high altitudes. 

Reports of mysterious orbs have been increasing in recent weeks. These orbs have been sighted at both high altitudes and closer to urban areas. 

Orb sighting over New Jersey on December 17, 2024

Watch video UFO Sightings Daily

Pilots have reported encounters to air traffic control. Listen to conversations between pilots and traffic control.

    

And a passenger aboard United Airlines flight UA2359 from Chicago to Newark recently captured footage of these mysterious orbs. The video, shared online by the user “EasilyAmusedEE” on December 16, 2024, shows objects at altitudes between 40,000 and 50,000 feet—far beyond the capabilities of consumer drones. The footage was reportedly taken using an iPhone 16 Pro Max.

   

Video plane passenger films unknown orbs.

About the drone sightings: Meanwhile, eyewitness accounts describe these so-called drones as crafts that emit no noise, suggesting advanced technology. Additionally, there are claims that these crafts seem to intentionally draw attention, as they have reportedly interfered with cars (lamps flickering), electronics, streetlights (lamps flickering), and even fully charged batteries, which are said to be instantly drained in their presence.

  

Video shows among other (drone/orb) sightings, cars lamps flickering, streetlights lamps flickering, fully charged batteries drained.

This surge in Orb sightings raises more questions. Are these orbs extraterrestrial in origin? Could they be deliberately associated with the drone phenomena, or is their timing coincidental? Some suggest the possibility of a false flag operation, hinting at a deeper and potentially misleading agenda by the U.S. government. 

Whether these drones and Orbs sightings point to advanced human technology, extraterrestrial activity, or a mix of both, one thing is clear: there is something significant going on.

“This one is very blurred. It could be distorted lights on a drone or a helicopter but the picture is not very good, so it’s impossible to say,” said Levy, who has 41 years of flying experience in the US.

{ https://ufosightingshotspot.blogspot.com/ }

18-12-2024 om 21:05 geschreven door peter  

Massive Drone Found by Police in New York Raises Questions

Story by Flynn Nicholls

What's New

Police have recovered a massive drone apparently abandoned in the Brooklyn Navy Yard.

A photo obtained by the New York Post shows an NYPD officer holding up the large aircraft, which appears to be more than five feet in diameter. Energy startup Amogy, Inc. said it manufactured the drone and had placed it on the sidewalk outside its headquarters a month before.

Newsweek has contacted the NYPD and Amogy Inc. via email for comment.

Why It Matters

The NYPD's recovery of the drone comes amid a wave of reported drone activity across New York and New Jersey in recent weeks.

With few answers given by federal officials about the matter and state and local officials having little authority to help the situation, people are getting increasingly worried about the sightings. This has led to rampant speculation among members of the public, experts, and lawmakers, sometimes even turning to outlandish conspiracy theories, to explain the phenomenon.

What To Know

According to the Post's report, police responded to an emailed tip and located the drone on the sidewalk at Fifth Street between Market Street and Morris Avenue.

A passerby told officers he worked in the building that houses the headquarters of the drone's manufacturer Amogy, Inc., a sustainable energy startup.

Amogy CEO Seonghoon Woo later confirmed to the Post that the drone belonged to the company and said it had been placed on the sidewalk after a company party about a month ago.

An Amogy spokesperson told the Post the drone had been used in a demonstration of its clean energy technology three years ago and had been on display outside the company's headquarters ever since.

"NYPD took possession of it for a brief period. Amogy cooperated fully with NYPD and the drone has since been returned to the company after NYPD determined the drone was not a threat," the spokesperson said.

Even though the spokesperson said the drone was not a threat, news account @rawsalerts posted to X a video showing the officers holding it, garnering 3.7 million views by Tuesday morning, with several users skeptical of the official story.

What People Are Saying About Drones

Rebecca Weiner, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of counterterrorism and intelligence, at a briefing: "What we've seen over the past few days here in the city has actually been quite normal, frankly, in terms of the actual drone activity that we see every day... You have a really strong uptick in reporting but not a strong uptick in actual drone detection, which makes sense — all people are seeing on the news is drone sightings everywhere."

White House National Security Communications adviser John Kirby in a press briefing: "The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they're working closely with state and local law enforcement to provide resources, using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin."

President-elect Donald Trump, to reporters at Mar-a-Lago: "I think they'd [the government] be better off saying what it is. Our military knows, and our president knows, and for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense."

What Happens Next

As concerns about drone sightings persist, authorities are likely to continue monitoring and responding to reports across the region.

{ https://www.newsweek.com/news }

17-12-2024 om 23:05 geschreven door peter  

NASA Cuts Live Feed After UFO appears flying past International Space Station Dec 16, 2024, UAP Sighting News.

Date of sighting: Dec 17, 2024

Location of sighting: International Space Station, New Jersey, Hill AFB Utah. 

 

Guys this is really something. Two UFOs were passing the space station on live NASA cam today, then the NASA stream suddenly went to blue screen with a lost contact message. Maybe it was the alien craft which cut communications or maybe it was NASA trying to hide this info from the public, but either way, I got it for you here. These are 100% real alien ships. US gov says drones, but they are maned alien ships. 

 

Why now? Because the alien species out there want disclosure and want the public to know the truth. Why now? Because ai, it's growing exponentially every day and it may get out of control. Aliens can predict the future with a 99.99% accuracy, so they saw something...a turning point, a pivotal moment in human history where aliens were needed or could reveal themselves to the world. 

Scott C. Waring

 

 

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

17-12-2024 om 22:36 geschreven door peter  

UFO Recorded by Channel 7 TV News Over Mendham Borough, New Jersey, Dec 17, 2024, UAP Sighting News.

Date of sighting: Dec 17, 2024
Location of sighting: Mendham Borough, New Jersey, USA

Hey all, check this out. A UFO was reported over New Jersey and a TV news channel went out to investigate it. They caught a glowing orb or sphere flying low, hovering in place. It's clearly not a US military drone, it's not an Iran drone, this is pure alien technology we are looking at. Great capture, much more news on the UFO front to come. So earlier when I thought they were drones, I was clearly wrong. This is the first clear video that I have seen. 

Scott C. Waring

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

17-12-2024 om 22:30 geschreven door peter  

Speaking from Washington on Wednesday, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh confirmed to reporters that the ongoing drone sightings are not linked to any U.S. military drone activities, while also confirming that the Pentagon currently has no evidence to suggest they are being controlled by foreign actors.

“At this time, we have no evidence that these activities are coming from a foreign entity, or are the work of an adversary,” Singh said yesterday, stating that the DoD was aware of no threats to U.S. military assets resulting from the drone incidents.

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh addressed ongoing concerns involving mystery drone sightings over the northeast while speaking with reporters on Wednesday

(Credit: USAF Senior Airman Madelyn Keech/DoD).

Earlier today, Pentagon Spokesperson Major General Pat Ryder reaffirmed that the Pentagon’s assessment that no evidence has been found linking the drones to foreign actors remains unchanged, based on ongoing exchanges with other federal agencies.

On Wednesday, United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM) released a statement saying it also is monitoring the situation, and that it has conducted analysis of the incidents, although it has not been formally asked to participate with other federal agencies involved in the investigation.

“We are aware and monitoring the reports of unauthorized drone flights in the vicinity of military installations in New Jersey,” read a statement released by USNORTHCOM Directorate of Public Affairs.

“U.S. Northern Command conducted a deliberate analysis of the events, in consultation with other military organizations and interagency partners, and at this time we have not been requested to assist with these events,” the statement read, adding that USNORTHCOM will continue to assess the situation, and “is prepared to respond when asked or should the situation escalate to threaten any DoD installations.”

Earlier this month, USNORTHCOM was officially designated the Lead Synchronizer for Homeland Counter Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems Operations in the continental U.S. and Alaska.

On Wednesday, Dawn Fantasia, a Republican member of the General Assembly for New Jersey’s 24th legislative district, attended a briefing held for New Jersey State Legislators at the headquarters of the New Jersey State Police, where she said Department of Homeland Security officials told lawmakers they still had few answers regarding the drone incursions.

“We know nothing. PERIOD,” Fantasia said in a posting on social media summarizing key takeaways from the briefing. “To state that there is no known or credible threat is incredibly misleading,” she added.

Fantasia said that the New Jersey State Police and other state authorities were “shackled” in terms of actions that could be taken, and that “Any interception or takedown of any UAS is under the strict jurisdiction of the federal government.”

“At this point, I believe military intervention is the only path forward,” Fantasia wrote, adding that the U.S. Coast Guard would “be the most likely to intervene based upon our briefing, but even that component was shrouded in mystery.”

Homeland Security officials reportedly told Fantasia that sightings have occurred nightly, with as many as 180 sightings in a single night, and most activity reported between dusk and 11 PM.

Many of the drones have been described as large, with some estimates placing them up to 6 feet in diameter and operating “in a coordinated manner.” Currently, the takeoff and landing sites of the drones remains undetermined, although they are believed to maintain prolonged flight periods of up to seven hours, with an estimated range of 15 miles, “raising questions about their technology and intent.”

Fantasia said Homeland Security officials told her some of the drones were difficult to detect for a variety of reasons, which included some operating without lighting, and others appearing to avoid detection by radio frequency emissions or infrared cameras.

DHS officials reportedly confirmed that the mystery drones were not believed to be operated by hobbyists, and that most sightings are occurring “in unrestricted airspace, but their behavior is unusual and potentially nefarious.”

“In-person Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Training starts in Monmouth County in January and will expand statewide,” Fantasia also said.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, who was not in attendance at Wednesday’s DHS briefing, called the situation “frustrating” earlier this week, although he maintains that there is no indication that the drones pose a threat to public safety.

Earlier this week, Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) claimed that he had been told the drones were being operated by Iran from an alleged mothership located off the U.S. Atlantic coast, citing unnamed sources he deemed “very reliable.”

“Iran launched a mothership probably about a month ago that contains these drones,” Van Drew said during an appearance on Fox News on Wednesday. “It’s off the east coast of the United States of America.”

“We know it’s not our own government, because they would have let us know,” Van Drew also said. Van Drew provided no context for the claims beyond his belief that the information came “from high sources.” Presently, Van Drew remains the only official to have made such assertions about alleged Iranian involvement publicly.

Asked at yesterday’s Pentagon press briefing about Van Drew’s claims, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh maintained that the DoD has seen no clear evidence linking the drone sightings to a foreign power, and that “there is not any truth” to Van Drew’s claims.

“There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there’s no so-called ‘mothership’ launching drones towards the United States,” Singh said on Wednesday.

Although the Pentagon has poured cold water on the claims involving an Iranian connection, several elected officials in New Jersey have maintained they believe the objects may be originating from somewhere off the Eastern Coast.

“They have tracked these things going out to the water,” said Michael Melham, Mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, earlier this week. “So that’s quite interesting.”

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) similarly told lawmakers at a hearing earlier this week that he had learned of a sighting by a law enforcement officer at Island Beach State Park on Sunday where dozens of drones were reportedly observed flying inland from a launch point somewhere in the ocean.

“One of those officers two nights ago saw 50 drones come in off the ocean,” Smith said on Tuesday.

Smith also said a U.S. Coast Guard official told him that one of its vessels had been followed by a group of drones.

“I think this is a very serious threat,” Smith said of the alleged incidents.

At Wednesday’s breifing in Washington, Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said the Department of Defense will watch the situation closely as federal and local authorities continue their investigations.

“We’re going to continue to monitor what’s happening,” Singh said.

• This article was updated on Dec. 12, 2024 at 3:33 PM to include additional updates on the Pentagon’s position on the situation that were recently provided by Pentagon Spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder. 
• Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/uap/ }

16-12-2024 om 23:46 geschreven door peter  

Mystery Drones Invading New Jersey Airspace Are Keeping Officials on Edge as Feds Probe for Answers

This week, sightings of the small aircraft, which have reportedly been occurring over New Jersey now for several weeks, have extended into surrounding states, with recent observations occurring over Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Brooklyn, New York.

In New Jersey, many of the recent sightings reported by residents have occurred in Morris County, home to the U.S. Army’s Picatinny Arsenal. One of the earliest known sightings of the New Jersey mystery drones occurred there on November 13, when a security officer was reportedly one of the first to have observed the objects.

Picatinny Arsenal main gate

(Credit: U.S. Army Photo).

Since then, at least ten more confirmed sightings have taken place near the arsenal, and seven more potential sightings remain unconfirmed.

In a statement provided to The Debrief, a spokesperson with Picatinny Arsenal said officials there quickly began investigating and increasing outreach and coordination with multiple local, state, and federal organizations after the initial sightings several weeks ago.

“While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remain unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activities,” said Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Commander, in a statement provided to The Debrief.

The investigation into the drone sightings is ongoing, a Picatinny Arsenal spokesperson said on Tuesday.

In its own investigations into the ongoing sightings, The Debrief has now made inquiries with multiple state and federal agencies, including public records act requests and other efforts aimed at learning what available information can reveal about the mysterious drone sightings that have plagued New Jersey residents now for many weeks.

Many of those inquires are ongoing, and The Debrief is presently awaiting further communication from federal and state officials that will be featured in our ongoing reporting on these sightings. Meanwhile, the emerging picture of the drone situation over the northeastern U.S., how it has developed in recent days, and how officials are responding, presents an intriguing picture of what has become one of 2024’s most significant stories, and a compelling mystery that currently leaves us with far more questions than answers.

Official Acknowledgement of an Ongoing Mystery

Following the initial sightings in mid-November, Morris County officials acknowledged that the mystery drones had also been observed by area law enforcement officers on the evening of Monday, November 18.

“County and local law enforcement agencies are aware of the recurring reports of drone activity around Morris and Somerset counties, and acknowledge the public’s concern about these repeated sightings,” read a portion of an advisory released by the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office on December 3.

“There continues to be no known threat to public safety,” the advisory stated.

Since the sightings began in mid-November, observations of the mysterious drones have now been reported in 10 counties in New Jersey. Many sightings have reportedly occurred over infrastructure sites that include railroads and reservoirs, as well as military facilities.

“Over the weekend, nearly a dozen unmanned drones were reported in various areas of Middletown, including the airspace over Naval Weapons Station Earle,” said Tony Perry, Mayor of Middletown, New Jersey, in a letter to U.S. Senator Corey Booker on Monday. “This unauthorized activity poses significant security concerns for critical military installations and the surrounding communities.”

In a statement on social media, Perry said he had also requested briefings from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security “to address our growing questions and concerns.”

The ongoing sightings have prompted several similar concerned responses from state and local officials.

“Understandably, New Jersey residents are very alarmed at this significant and reoccurring phenomenon – and the tepid response from our state and federal agencies so far is totally unacceptable,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in a statement on Monday. “As we saw with the Chinese spy balloon last year, our fiercest adversaries will stop at nothing to surveil our homeland and threaten our national security.”

“While the source of this drone activity is still to be determined, it is clear that the communication channels and proper authorities among local law enforcement and federal partners must be drastically improved in order to work quickly through deconfliction and security challenges as unmanned aerial systems become more prevalent,” Smith added.

In a statement on Tuesday that echoed similar frustration with the situation, U.S. Senator Jon Bramnick (R-NJ) said he believed state officials “should issue a limited state of emergency banning all drones until the public receives an explanation regarding these multiple sightings.”

Also on Tuesday, mayors from towns across Morris County released a letter to New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, where they collectively called for increased transparency on the issue.

“These flights, occurring under the cover of darkness, have raised significant alarm among the more than 500,000 County residents and local officials alike,” the letter read.

“Despite inquiries made to relevant authorities, we have yet to receive satisfactory answers about the purpose, operators, or safety protocols governing these flights,” it added.

Speaking with the media on Tuesday, Governor Murphy responded to the concerns expressed in the letter, saying he didn’t blame residents and elected officials across his state for feeling frustrated with the situation, although he maintained that federal officials have found no evidence indicating the drone flights could pose a threat.

“We don’t see any concern for public safety,” Murphy said, adding that it was “really frustrating that we don’t have more answers to where they’re coming from, and why they’re doing what they’re doing.”

“We had, last night, 49 sightings. I think 20 of them were over Hunterdon,” Murphy said.

The Debrief reached out to officials with the Hunterdon County Sherriff’s Department about the sightings but received no response to our inquiries.

Murphy also said one of the alleged drone sightings on Monday night was later determined to have been the likely misidentification of a small aircraft, possibly a Piper J-3 Cub. Previously, The Debrief reported that several photos and videos that were being featured in television newscasts as purported imagery of the mystery drones were, in fact, misidentified conventional aircraft displaying standard position light configurations required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

On Tuesday morning, a spokesperson for the Newark Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the agency is “doing all we can to figure out what’s going on,” although admitting that “we truly don’t have much information to provide at the moment.”

The Debrief also reached out to FBI’s Newark Field Office for a comment, but received no response.

Mystery Drones of Varying Descriptions

While there is no single consistent description of their appearance, many reports describe the drones as relatively low-flying objects that produce buzzing noises consistent with conventional unmanned aerial systems. However, the New Jersey objects are often described as appearing to be larger than the varieties of drones typically flown by hobbyists, with some descriptions likening them to the size of an automobile.

Several observers say the drones, which often travel in groups, also appear to follow consistent flight paths that regularly carry them over critical infrastructure sites and military installations.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued temporary flight restrictions over locations that include Picatinny Arsenal and Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, a favorite golfing destination of President Elect Donald Trump.

Although officials have been able to provide few details about the drone overflights, Florham Park Police Chief Joseph Orlando said last week that “their presence appears nefarious in nature.”

Among the proposed explanations for at least a portion of the recent drone sightings, some have pointed to small aircraft like the BlackFly, produced by light aircraft Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) manufacturer Pivotal, who announced in October that more than a dozen of their prototype aircraft had been sent to private owners and the U.S. Air Force.

Meanwhile, the FBI’s Newark field office has issued a public appeal for tips, requesting that anyone with relevant information about the drones to please reach out to authorities.

Drone Sightings Beyond New Jersey’s Skies

As recent sightings beyond New Jersey appear to reveal a greater geographic spread of the drone activity than previously realized, Staten Island’s borough president, Vito Fossella, said he has requested FBI and FAA briefings, calling the situation “odd and quite bizarre.”

The FAA says that drone operators found conducting unsafe or unauthorized flights could face severe penalties, including fines of up to $75,000.

Since the drone sightings over New Jersey began last month, a spate of similar incidents involving unauthorized drone incursions over U.S. military facilities at airbases in the United Kingdom occurred over a span of several days in late November.

Beginning on November 20, what officials characterized as a multi-drone incursion over RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, England was followed by similar nightly sightings that expanded to nearby RAF Mildenhall, also in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk. Drone sightings were also reported over RAF Fairford.

On December 5, the DoD announced a new classified strategy for countering potential threats associated with unmanned aerial systems (UAS), largely in response to how drones and other unmanned systems are changing the warfighting and security environment.

“Unmanned systems, more commonly known as drones, have the potential to pose both an urgent and enduring threat to US personnel, facilities, and assets overseas and, increasingly, in the US homeland,” said Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder of the DoD’s new initiative during a press conference at the Pentagon last week.

“The threats presented by these systems are changing how wars are fought,” Ryder said. “With a singular strategy for countering unmanned systems, in conjunction with other major DOD initiatives like the Joint Counter Small UAS Office and Replicator 2, the DOD is orienting around a common understanding of the challenge and a comprehensive approach to addressing it.”

Asked whether the timing of the announcement had been influenced by the recent drone incidents in the U.S. and the U.K., Ryder said no, adding that the DoD’s new strategy is an outgrowth of “work that’s been going on for some time, and obviously very important work.”

On Friday, as drone sightings continued in the skies over the northeast, a classified briefing was provided to lawmakers by the DoD’s All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office (AARO), the DoD’s official investigative unit into what the U.S. now calls unidentified anomalous phenomena (objects traditionally known as UFOs).

It is unclear whether AARO officials who spoke during Friday’s classified briefing addressed the recent drone sightings occurring in the U.S. and over U.K. airbases. However, speaking last month during a Senate hearing, Dr. Jon Kosloski, who has served as Director of AARO since August, told lawmakers that while his office is not directly tasked with the investigation of drone sightings, AARO may still be able to provide resources that could federal agencies who are looking into such incidents.

“As AARO is trying to push the bounds on detectability for UAP, we’re hopefully going to have best practices that we can also provide to the counter-UAS [efforts],” Kosloski told U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) during the hearing.

In response to concerns over the recent drone sightings, on Tuesday a Joint Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence and Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee hearing also addressed the situation, where lawmakers discussed the DoD’s ability to detect and destroy drones that could pose security threats over stadiums and other locations where unauthorized drone flights could pose a security risk

“In recent years, the proliferation of UASs both domestically and abroad has raised serious concerns regarding their potential misuse in criminal activities, espionage, and more alarmingly, in threats to U.S. National Security,” said Rep. August Pfluger (R-TX) during opening remarks at Tuesday’s hearing. The session featured participation from the US National Football League, the Justice Department, the FBI, and other agencies, in addressing potential security risks posed by unmanned aerial systems.

While speaking with reporters on Tuesday, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said that he has remained in contact with federal agencies regarding the ongoing drone sightings occurring over his state.

“I was on with the White House and Homeland Security leadership literally at the very top yesterday,” Murphy said. “I’m hoping we’ll get answers sooner than later.”

“I would just ask folks to continue to let the FBI or their local law enforcement know when they see something,” Murphy added.

“We’ll continue to do everything we can with our federal partners to get clear answers.”

• The FBI – Newark and the New Jersey State Police are requesting that members of the public report any information related to the recent drone sightings. The FBI can be reached at 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324), or online at tips.fbi.gov, where citizens are able to share imagery and videos of the objects, if available.  
• The Debrief is also interested in hearing first-hand reports of sighitings of the drones currently being observed over New Jersey and surrounding states. Information, sightings reports, and other news tips can be sent to us at tips@thedebrief.org. 

• This article was updated on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024. 

• Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. He can be reached by email at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow his work at micahhanks.com and on X: @MicahHanks.

{ https://thedebrief.org/category/uap/ }

16-12-2024 om 23:11 geschreven door peter  

• The Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security are investigating 
  

By JON MICHAEL RAASCH, POLITICAL REPORTER ON CAPITOL HILL, FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Democrat lawmakers are demanding answers about the mysterious New Jersey drones that federal authorities and President Joe Biden have yet to explain. 

The bizarre unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) were first noticed hovering over New Jersey over a month ago, yet neither local or federal authorities have offered an explanation behind the lights that dash across the sky from dusk to dawn - notably disappearing during daylight.  

Biden has since tasked his agencies with finding out what is occurring over the Garden State, White House spokesman John Kirby said last week on Fox News.

In the same interview Kirby, the White House National Security Communications Advisor, did not have an explanation to offer as to what was behind the UAPs, saying the president's men are still searching for answers. 

The Pentagon, FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have all been probing what is going on, and its of particular concern because these drones are flying over sensitive U.S. military instillations. 

As the unsettling sightings have racked the minds of residents living in the area with worry, the lawmakers representing these neighborhoods have been bombarded with questions.

'We're here today because it's not a bird, it's not a plane, it's a drone,' Senate Leader Chuck Schumer began a press conference over the weekend. 'And when it comes to drones, people in the New York area and all across the country have more questions than answers.'

Schumer is the highest-ranking Democrat in politics outside of the White House, and his demands that the Pentagon, DHS and FBI provide answers are the weightiest yet outside of the executive branch.

Biden has tasked his agencies with getting to the bottom of the New Jersey drone phenomenon, but so far lawmakers like Schumer and other Democrats are not satisfied with the odd lack of answers 

Schumer holding up a picture of a drone at a press conference over the weekend

He raised concern that there have not been appropriate answers as to what is flying over NJ

'We've seen lots of recent, recent sightings in New York, New Jersey, Long Island, Staten Island,' he continued while holding up a picture of a drone-looking device pictured in a recent sighting. 

'So it's remarkable with all these sightings over the last while, why do we have more questions than answers?'

Speaking on Sunday Schumer pushed for methods to detect the drones.  

'If the technology exists for a drone to make it up into the sky, there certainly is technology that can track the craft with precision and determine what the heck is going on.' 

He has announced an initiative to push for drone-detecting measures.  

Earlier in the weekend the New York Democrat floated the idea on X:  

'I’m pushing for answers amid these drone sightings,' he said in the post. 'I’m calling for [DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas] to deploy special drone-detection tech across NY and NJ.'

'And I’m working to pass a bill in the Senate to give local law enforcement more tools for drone detection.'

In this image taken from video, what appears to be drones flying over Randolph, N.J., Dec. 4, 2024

Last week, Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said the agency does not know what the drones are, however she could say that DoD has 'no evidence' that the drones are 'the work of a foreign adversary.'

On Monday New Jersey Democrat Rep. Mikie Sherrill mocked this explanation on CNBC. 

She accused authorities of telling the public, 'Don't worry, they're not a threat,' while also claiming, 'We don't know what they are,' an explanation that she found mind-boggling.

'It just both can't be true,' she added. 'We need somebody in charge.'

A former helicopter pilot, Sherill suggested using U.S.-made reaper drones to surveil the devices to determine what they are - a plan similar to Schumer's. 

'So quite frankly, I think why we're here and why I'm so frustrated is that talking point of 'they're just commercial aircraft, don't worry your pretty little head,'' she said speaking to the hosts.   

'That doesn't work in New Jersey,' she lamented. 

New Jersey Democratic Senate-elect, Rep. Andy Kim, went to view the phenomena himself in-person days ago and was still left with questions after his visit despite being accompanied by local authorities. 

'Any images or video footage people get, the police urge them to submit to the FBI, but I haven’t gotten any follow up yet from the FBI on their investigation and what they’ve compiled,' he posted in a thread describing his experience. 

He was told that the UAPs could be the size of the hood of a car and they would disappear when approached by helicopter. 

'This has gone on for weeks. It’s hard to understand how with the technology we have we aren’t able to track these devices to determine origin and this makes me much more concerned about our capabilities more broadly when it comes to drone detection and counter measures,' he concluded his 13-part account. 

Alejandro Mayorkas has said a new Federal Aviation Administration rule may be behind the deluge of drone sightings across New Jersey and the East Coast 

'I’ve concluded the possible drone sightings pointed out to me were almost certainly planes,' the Democrat wrote in a follow-up. 

Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill told DailyMail.com last week about the concerning drone saga has gone on too long without sufficient answers. 

Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene called it 'bulls***' that the Pentagon does not have answers despite the sightings having gone on for over a month. 

Speaker Mike Johnson received a private briefing on the matter from FBI, DoD and DHS, though he has not spoken about what they have said. 

Mayorkas said on X Sunday: 'To date, there is no known threat posed by these sightings. If a threat is identified, the federal government will address it and communicate with the American public about it.'

'There is no question that drones have been sighted. It is also true that many reported sightings have turned out to be piloted aircraft. The technology we have deployed to New Jersey has confirmed this,' he continued. 

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

16-12-2024 om 22:27 geschreven door peter  

East Coast residents and lawmakers are again demanding answers after another slew of drone sightings in the region, with the origins of the alleged craft still unclear.

The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have deployed infrared cameras and drone detection technology to ensure the drones flying over the New Jersey and New York area aren't harmful, according to a law enforcement source.

The agencies are also looking at social media and other photos to determine what exactly is in the photos. Most of the photos and video depict manned aircraft, according to a law enforcement source.

There have also been no reports from pilots about seeing any drones in the sky, according to the source.

Another other issue federal authorities are dealing with: over-reporting of potentially seeing drones, according to the source. In the New York-New Jersey area, where they are being spotted, there are very few restrictions.

Matthew Murello, the mayor of Washington Township, New Jersey, told "Good Morning America" on Monday he believes "something's going on," expressing concern and frustration at the lack of answers from federal authorities.

"I'm not trying to stir anything up, but we all know -- if you just turn on the television -- that drones can be used in an aggressive fashion," Murello said. "They can carry payloads. They can be used for all kinds of really aggressive-type things."

White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said Thursday that "many" of the reported drone sightings appear to be lawfully operated manned aircraft, adding there was "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus."

But Murello said those living under the drones are not reassured.

"That's a wonderful thing to tell your residents," he said when asked about Kirby's assurances. "That's fantastic, until it's not."

"Nobody knows what these things are doing," Murello added. "Best case scenario, they're just getting video of us. Again, I don't know why out here. We're nothing but farm country. If you want videos of cows, I'll be happy to send you some."

Murello cast doubt on the official statements suggesting "no perceived threat."

"We've heard that before from our federal government -- 'We're not looking, we're not watching you, we're not watching your calls, we're not doing everything and don't worry -- we're here and we're here to help you'," he said.

Murello was among a group of New Jersey mayors who wrote to Gov. Phil Murphy asking for more information. The mayors were subsequently invited to a meeting, but Murello said the governor did not attend.

Instead, state police told the mayors they had little information on the drones. Authorities, Murello said, could not explain why some drones are being flown without emitting radio frequencies or using transponders -- both of which are required by law when a drone is used at night.

Murello said he had personally seen "a couple" of drones "around my town." He disputed Kirby's statement that many of the reported sightings were of misidentified manned aircraft.

"I have no way of telling you how big it was, but I can sure as heck can tell what they sound like," the mayor said. "And I know that they are not. What Adm. Kirby said -- which is a manned aircraft -- that just isn't right."

"I've seen multiple rotor, helicopter-type aircraft hovering above the tree line," Murello said, recalling one police official who said the drones can be up to 6 feet in diameter. The fact that most are spotted at night makes it "very difficult to kind of get an idea on them," Murello added.

Reports of drone activity forced the temporary closure of runways at New York's Stewart International Airport on Friday. The potential danger to aircraft is causing concern on the East Coast, Murello said.

"If pilots don't see these things and they're 6 foot in diameter and they hit an airplane -- that is not going to end well," he said.

Senators are also pushing federal agencies for more information. Last week, New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and New Jersey Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim wrote to the heads of the FBI, Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Homeland Security requesting meetings.

"We write with urgent concern regarding the unmanned aerial system activity that has affected communities across New York and New Jersey in recent days," the letter said, requesting a briefing "as soon as possible on how your agencies are working with federal and local law enforcement to identify and address the source of these incursions."

The mystery has caught the public's attention, with photos and videos of alleged sightings proliferating across social media. One FBI official told reporters Saturday that out of the nearly 5,000 tips the agency had received, less than 100 generated credible leads for further investigation.

As the search for answers continues, Murello said he sees "only two logical conclusions."

"One is somebody knows something and they're just not willing to tell us," the mayor said, suggesting potential national security sensitivities around the Morristown Airport and President-elect Donald Trump's Bedminster golf course.

"If this is an area that needs to be surveilled in the eventuality that the incoming president is going to spend a lot of time here, you know what? I'm fine with that. Just simply say it's an issue of national security," he said.

An "even scarier" explanation is that "we're the greatest nation in the world with the most technologically advanced military on the planet earth, and we don't know what the hell these things are," Murello added. "That's scary."

The DHS and FAA have both warned against attempting to shoot down a suspected drone, citing the danger of falling debris and ammunition.

It is illegal to shoot down a drone. Anyone who does so could be fined up to $250,000 and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

Murello said he would "definitely" not advise anyone to try to down a drone. "You also don't know if you do hit it, where it's going to come down and where are the rounds of ammunition going to land," he said.

"But I will say that, speaking with friends of mine that are current and former state troopers, we have the technology to be able to bring a drone down," Murello added, suggesting it was "absolutely silly" that law enforcement authorities are not authorized to down drones unless they are deemed a threat by the federal government.

"We don't need to bring all of them down, we need to bring one of them down," Murello continued. "We bring one down, we figure out what's going on."

{ https://abcnews.go.com/ }

16-12-2024 om 17:31 geschreven door peter  

Two UFOs over Missouri Dec 7, 2024 and Iran Drones Over New Jersey, UFO UAP Sighting News.

Credit: 

• https://www.tiktok.com/@somebodyon.theint https://en.mehrnews.com/amp/225561/
• https://www.businessinsider.com/iran-new-drone-carrier-left-home-port-images-2024-12?utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=topbar
• https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-admin-extends-10b-iran-sanctions-waiver-2-days-after-trump-election-win

{ https://www.ufosightingsdaily.com/ }

15-12-2024 om 23:24 geschreven door peter  

Mysterious Drone & UFO Sightings Over New Jersey Baffle Experts and Residents

Reports of unexplained drone and UFO activity in New Jersey have captured widespread attention, with sightings of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs) sparking debate among residents, politicians, and experts. Since November 2024, clusters of drones and other mysterious flying objects have been seen hovering over sensitive locations, raising questions about their origin and purpose.

Unusual Drone Activity in the Garden State

The drones reported in New Jersey are no ordinary devices. Witnesses have described large, car-sized objects capable of hovering for hours and flying in coordinated patterns with their lights off, often evading detection by helicopters and radar. These sightings have occurred near critical infrastructure, including military installations like Picatinny Arsenal, water reservoirs, and even President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

Adding to the mystery, some drones reportedly exhibit transmedium travel—seamlessly moving between air and water—a capability that far surpasses current consumer or commercial drone technology. Such advanced behavior has led experts to question whether these objects are foreign surveillance tools, military experiments, or something entirely unexplained.

Official Responses and Public Reaction

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has formally called for a federal investigation, urging President Joe Biden to address the escalating concerns. Despite this, federal agencies, including the FBI and Pentagon, have yet to provide definitive answers. National Security Spokesman John Kirby has suggested that many sightings could involve lawful manned aircraft but acknowledged the absence of concrete evidence to explain all incidents.

Politicians, including Representative Jeff Van Drew and Senator Andy Kim, have expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and coordination in addressing the sightings. Van Drew even alleged the possibility of a foreign “mothership” launching drones from off the East Coast—an assertion the Pentagon has denied.

Meanwhile, local officials and residents remain unsettled. A Facebook group dedicated to tracking the sightings has amassed tens of thousands of members, sharing videos and theories ranging from advanced military technology to extraterrestrial activity.

Theories and Speculations: UFOs or Advanced Tech?

Tom DeLonge, Blink-182 guitarist and prominent UFO researcher, has contributed his own theories to the discourse. DeLonge suggests that the drones might be mimicking other aircraft, a tactic historically associated with UFOs. He also pointed out their potential for transmedium travel, a phenomenon that has been observed in other UAP incidents globally.

According to DeLonge, such behavior could be a deliberate attempt to gain attention while avoiding outright panic. Historical comparisons to mass UFO sightings from the 1960s further highlight the enduring mystery of such phenomena.

A Call for Answers

The lack of clarity surrounding the New Jersey drone sightings has left the public divided between intrigue and unease. While officials assure there is no immediate threat, the advanced capabilities of these drones—whether human-made or otherwise—demand closer scrutiny.

As investigations continue, the skies over New Jersey remain a hotspot for UFO enthusiasts and skeptics alike. Whether these objects are cutting-edge technology, foreign surveillance tools, or signs of something more extraordinary, one thing is certain: the mystery of New Jersey’s drones is far from resolved.

VIDEO:

15-12-2024 om 20:40 geschreven door peter  

• Have YOU seen these drones flying? Email jose.ramos@mailonline.co.uk 

By JOSE RAMOS

Villagers 'can't believe what they saw' after yet another sighting of a suspected drone was spotted flying close to an American air base in Britain.

MailOnline has exclusively uncovered fresh footage filmed by a resident that shows the suspected drone flying over Hockwold cum Wilton, just six miles from RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.

The village sits between two Air Force bases, RAF Feltwell and RAF Lakenheath. 

It comes as mysterious drone activity near a US Army base in New Jersey causes a sensation in America, with the federal government proving unable to provide an explanation of what they are. Witnesses there claim the drones perfrom manuvers impossible for known technology.

Reports about American nuclear weapons being deployed to the latter for the first time since the Cold War have heightened fears that Russia could be behind the drone activity.

In America, experts have warned that the drone activity could be intelligence gathering by Iran or Russia. Philip Ingram, a former British military intelligence Colonel, said the recent drone sightings in the UK had 'all the hallmarks' of an operation by Russia's secretive GRU. 

The US Air Force admitted last month that drones had flown close to three of its UK bases – including Lakenheath, Feltwell as well as RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk. 

Farmworker Ricky Fletcher, 43, was leaving work on November 29 when initially he only saw one of them flying above. 

He told us: 'I first saw them on the farm I work at, I was leaving work at 4pm on Friday evening and saw one flying way from Feltwell low to the ground, I almost thought it was a helicopter, it was so big.

Farm worker Ricky Fletcher, 43, was leaving work on November 29 when initially he only saw a drone flying above him

Mr Fletcher added: 'We couldn't believe what we were seeing'

'But it wasn't. The way the lights flashed it wasn't a plane. It was definitely a drone.'

However, soon after that, he claims the sky was filled with a dozen of them.

'All of a sudden we looked up and saw about 10 of them circling around. We were fascinated by them, they were just circling around, not really flying in the same direction.'

He added: 'We couldn't believe what we were seeing.'

'They moved in and circled around that one there was over my village in Hockwold between Lakenheath and Feltwell.'

He said he drove home, in the same village, but could still see them circling over.

'I would come out to smoke and would see them at night,' he said.

This came after footage emerged of what is suspected to be four drones, brazenly flying with bright lights, in the early evening darkness above RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk.

While two of the drones to the left of the screen in the video appear stationary, the other two are shown moving and passing each other on the night of November 28.

The bright light at the top of the screen is believed to be the planet Venus which can be seen in the south-western sky in the month of November.

The planet which is the brightest in the earth's solar system is often confused with being an aircraft or rocket.

The sightings which are said to have started on November 20 and continued for several days have followed similar drone 'invasions' in New Jersey.

Previous footage showed the moment a swarm of drones fly over an American air base which is set to become home to US nuclear weapons

While two of the drones to the left of the screen in the video appear stationary, the other two are shown moving and passing each other on the night of November 28

The bright light at the top of the screen is believed to be the planet Venus which can be seen in the south-western sky in the month of November.

The planet which is the brightest in the earth's solar system is often confused with being an aircraft or rocket

Reports about American nuclear weapons being deployed to the base for the first time since the Cold War have heightened fears that Russia could be behind the drone activity

The US Air Force admitted last month that drones had buzzed three of its UK bases – RAF Lakenheath and RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk and nearby RAF Feltwell, Norfolk

Unknown craft are reported to have circled the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal in the state which manufactures and researches weapons including arms supplied to Ukraine.

Some reports have talked of 'car-sized' drones over New Jersey since mid-November, sometimes appearing in groups and often remaining in the same place for hours at a time. They are also said to have been spotted around New York, Texas and Oklahoma.

A New Jersey police department sparked concern after it revealed that a drone it sent up to track a mystery aircraft 'easily' evaded their device before disappearing into thin air.

Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy said a drone was launched after one of his officers saw 50 unmanned aerial vehicles, 'coming off the ocean'.

The officer dialed 911 to alert state police, the FBI and the Coast Guard.The maritime agency then reported seeing spotted 13 drones following their boat, estimating that the devices had a wingspan of eight feet.

Matronardy told NewsNation's Rich McHugh the force put up an 'industrial grade' drone to follow one of the devices, but it quickly slipped through their grasp.

The incident is just one of many drone sightings concerning locals in the Garden State and beyond.

'If this is not our military, then it's even more scary,' McHugh said.

Intelligence analysts from both the US and UK have pointed the finger at interference by Russian despot Vladimir Putin.

The video at RAF Lakenheath was taken shortly after British authorities had announced that 60 soldiers were being sent to investigate the sightings at the three UK bases.

Two days after it was taken, an RAF Chinook apparently flew British special forces troops to join the probe at RAF Lakenheath which is home to the to the 48th Fighter Wing's F-15E Strike Eagle and F-35A Lightning II aircraft.

Flight tracker records showed the Chinook leaving RAF Odiham, Hampshire, and flying to Poole, Dorset, to apparently pick up SBS troops before heading to Hereford where the SAS are based, and then on to the US base.

Earlier this month, villagers near RAF Lakenheath described seeing the drones on repeated nights, along with an increase in security patrols by MoD police. The base stated this week that there had been no new sightings in recent days.

A retired British spymaster yesterday claimed that Kremlin intelligence services were potentially gearing up for a fresh wave of incursions into UK airspace.

Philip Ingram, a former British military intelligence Colonel, said the recent drone sightings had 'all the hallmarks' of an operation by Russia's secretive GRU spy agency.

'It's a distinct possibility if not a certain probability this is all down to Russian intelligence,' he said. '

They and the GRU are just a bunch of petulant little boys. They're trying to suggest they have the ability to disrupt and influence through a level of nuisance action.'

A swarm of drones is spotted over in New Jersey, America, which has alarmed US officials 

Drones have been sighted at military bases in the UK and US. Pictured is one drone circling an American weapons base in New Jersey - which experts say is Russian 

He added: 'I would say we will see another flurry of activity in the next few months for sure. Whether drones or something else, I suspect something else.'

Col Ingram said Russians or their agents could also be using the UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) to test Western forces' responses and capabilities.

He suggested they were potentially carrying out such operations to massage Russian tyrant Putin's bruised ego, after his failures in Ukraine.

He also claimed the drones were part of a wider spate of small, 'seemingly isolated' incidents which could be part of a larger coordinated test of disruption tactics.

'There's a pattern building up and from an intelligence perspective, I don't like patterns,' Col Ingram added.

'Each one of these things in isolation won't massively disrupt our way of life and none will potentially raise a big question mark but if you suddenly put them together and they all happen at once, then the level of disruption you could have could be really serious.'

The sightings follow a series of suspicious incidents worldwide, which have seen hackers carrying out cyber attacks, sabotaging underwater internet cables and bomb scares triggering chaos at Gatwick and in central London.

The FBI and other agencies are said to investigating the sightings in America, but the Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday: 'We have no more information as to where these drones are coming from, where they're launching from, where they're landing.'

Britain this week unveiled its newest weapon in the war against drones - a high powered laser which is able to scorch the devices out of the sky in seconds.

The high-energy device, mounted on the roof of a Wolfhound armoured vehicle, was successfully tested at the Radnor Range in mid-Wales.

Soldiers from 16 Royal Artillery - an air defence regiment based near Portsmouth, Hampshire - were able to track and destroy hovering targets.

Retired police lieutenant and intelligence analyst Tim McMillan told DailyMail.com the descriptions of the UFOs in Jersey 'sound exactly like Russian Orlan-10 drones' — secretive craft that fly in packs of three to five.

The Orlan-10 craft comes with 'standard positional lighting' — a red light on the left (port) wingtip, a green light on the right (starboard) wingtip, and white taillights, similar to the lights seen on ordinary aircraft and Jersey's 'mystery drones.'

Experts suggest that Russia could be carrying out an intelligence-gathering mission known as 'ferreting', meant to intentionally trigger and test a rival's airspace defence procedures and response times.

Or the Kremlin could simply be spying on allies of Ukraine who are aiding the fight against Russia's invasion.

While experts could not rule out a theory that Iran was behind the attacks, argued by NJ Congressman Jeff Van Drew, but denied by the Pentagon, White House officials have long noted that Russia and Iran collaborate on military drone development.

'Russia has been very aggressive and reckless with its responses to Western support of Ukraine,' Lt McMillan told DailyMail.com. 'This isn't something I see discussed in US media, but it's well documented and openly discussed here in Europe.'

The first New Jersey drone sightings appeared over the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal on November 18, but reports to varying levels of credibility have now spread to at least 12 counties throughout the Garden State.

Officials have received reports of craft flying of 'water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments, and military installations' in recent weeks, according to Florham Park, NJ police chief Joseph J Orlando.

But those earliest and most credible sightings above Picatinny, according to Lt McMillan, are most worth focusing on.

'Picatinny Arsenal,' as Lt McMillan told DailyMail.com, is 'home of the US Army's CCDC Armaments Center, which is responsible for manufacturing and supplying Ukraine with 155mm artillery ammunition.'

Republican Rep Jeff Van Drew has claimed that Iran is behind the drones in New Jersey, telling reporters that the nation parked a 'mothership' off the East Coast.

MailOnline have approached the MoD for further comment

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

15-12-2024 om 00:00 geschreven door peter  

Satellite images spy Iranian 'mothership' linked to mysterious drones flying over New Jersey

• READ MORE: Live updates for drones over New Jersey 

By STACY LIBERATORE FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Satellite images have spotted the Iranian 'mothership' linked to the mysterious drones in New Jersey.

The Shahid Bagheri drone carrier was last seen at its berth in the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex on November 12, but an image taken 18 days later showed its docking station empty.

That is around the same time New Jersey police started to be inundated with sightings of drones in the skies, flying in clusters and acting strangely.

New Jersey Republican Rep Jeff Van Drew claimed this week there was 'circumstantial evidence’ that Iran's ship was releasing the drones from America's East Coast.

Van Drew said that Iran made a deal with China 'to purchase drones, a mothership and other technologies' for the drone attack on the US, a theory the Pentagon has dismissed.

Drew doubled down on his claims Thursday, saying 'credible individuals that have security clearance... believe there's a real possibility it could be Iran.'

He also argued that the US is not being told the truth and the American public are being treated as 'stupid.'

The 800ft-long Shahid Bagheri has since been spotted on satellite in the open waters of the Persian Gulf. It would take around 13 days for the ship to travel from Iran to America's East Coast.

The Shahid Bagheri drone carrier was last seen at its berth in the Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex on November 12, but an image taken 18 days later showed its station empty

The militarized cargo ship is allegedly conducting its first sea trials since leaving the nearby Iran Shipyard and Offshore Industries (ISOICO) shipyard.

Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said: 'There's no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there's no so-called 'mothership' launching drones toward the United States,' said Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh.

She reiterated the Pentagon does not believe the drones are coming from a foreign adversary but also stated they are not US military drones.

Numerous 'SUV-sized' craft have appeared in the state since mid-November, sometimes appearing in groups and often remaining in the same place for hours at a time, according to eyewitnesses.

The first sightings were over the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal and President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, which raised concerns the drones were part of spy campaign.

Shahid Bagheri was spotted on December 12 in the open waters near two of Iran's naval ships: Shahid Roudaki and Shahid Mahdavi.

Shahid Roudaki was a merchant ship that was repurposed for military use. It is capable of carrying drones, helicopters and missile launchers.  

Shahid Bagheri was spotted on December 12 in the open waters

The carrier (bottom left) was pictured in formation with two of Iran's naval ships: Shahid Roudaki (top right) and Shahid Mahdavi (bottom right)

And Shahid Mahdavi, developed in 2023, was 'designed for long-range operations and is outfitted with missiles, air defense systems, and advanced radar technology.'

White House National Security spokesman John Kirby was pressed about a Van Drew's claim on Thursday, replying the drones not foreign, and they may not even be drones.

'We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,' Kirby told reporters Thursday.

The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI reiterated Kirby's statements in a joint release Thursday saying that there is no national security risk.

'We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus,' the statement reads.

Shahid Mahdavi, developed in 2023, was 'designed for long-range operations and is outfitted with missiles, air defense systems, and advanced radar technology'

But New Jersey State Representative Paul Kanitra (R) questioned this.

'That goes directly against what the federal Department of Homeland Security told us in the briefing Wednesday,' said Kanitra. I couldn’t possibly understand what their motivation is to try and diminish this.'

New Jersey Assemblymember Brian Bergen (R) also hit back at Kirby's claims.

'That guy is an idiot. That I can tell you right now,' Bergen, a former US Army helicopter pilot, said Thursday evening in an interview on Fox News.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

14-12-2024 om 21:56 geschreven door peter  

By ELLYN LAPOINTE and BETHAN SEXTON and RUTH BASHINSKY IN NEW JERSEY FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Mysterious drone sightings in the skies above New Jersey continued to alarm locals and baffle experts on Friday, despite assurances from the White House that they pose no threat.

White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby insisted that the public had nothing to fear, but admitted that officials were still struggling to corroborate some of the reports.

The first drone sightings appeared over the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal and over Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster on November 18. 

Donald Trump explodes over drone 'invasion' and sends Biden an ominous warning

The president-elect demanded the drones flying over multiple US states be shot down by the Biden White House after days of mysterious sightings across the sky.

The first sightings were over the US Army's Picatinny Arsenal and Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, which raised concerns the drones are part of spy campaign.

The president-elect didn't directly address the sightings over his club, but demanded action from Joe Biden and the government in a Truth Social post Friday.

He wrote: 'Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!! DJT.'

Donald Trump explodes over drone 'invasion' and sends Biden a warning

Donald Trump has demanded the drones flying over multiple US states be shot down by the Biden White House after days of mysterious sightings across the sky.

{ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/ }

14-12-2024 om 21:28 geschreven door peter