The mysterious drones sighted over New Jersey in December were authorized to fly and did not originate from a hostile power, The White House said Tuesday.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized the drones to fly for “research” and were “not the enemy.” A brief panic ensued among the public and lawmakers over the mysterious drones in December, which was aggravated by hobbyists flying their own over the area, according to the White House.
In December, residents of Morris and Somerset counties in New Jersey saw what appeared to be flashing and darting lights overhead, with some appearing to travel in formations. Lawmakers began to ask federal agencies for answers, which were met with silence at the time.
Republican New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew said Dec. 11 that the drones were launched by Iran from a “mothership,” citing “qualified” and “responsible sources.” The Pentagon quickly shot down Van Drew’s assertions that day, saying there was “no truth” to the rumor while also saying they were not “U.S. military.”
Trump called for the drones to be shot down in a Truth Social post Dec. 13, saying the public deserved to know what the objects were and adding that the incidents couldn’t “be happening without our government’s knowledge.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation warned residents on Dec. 16 to not shoot down the drones, citing potential legal repercussions and the potential to accidentally shoot down a manned vehicle.
The FAA deferred to the White House while reiterating that drones can fly legally in most places under 400 feet with some exceptions when the Daily Caller News Foundation requested comment.
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