• Scripps News

Mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern over who sent them and why. Here's what we know so far. (Scripps News)

Drones for commercial and recreational use grew rapidly in popularity despite restrictions on who can operate them and where they can be flown.

No-fly zones are enforced around airports, military installations, nuclear plants, sports stadiums during games and certain landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty.

However, not everybody follows the rules. Sightings at airports shut down flights in a few instances.

Drone pilot Michael Downey says that the drones seem to be following all FAA regulations.

Reported sightings of what appear to be drones flying over New Jersey at night in recent weeks created anxiety among some residents, in part because it is not clear who is operating them or why. Some state and local officials called for stricter rules to govern drones.

Most, but not all, of the drones spotted in New Jersey appeared to be larger than those typically used by hobbyists. Officials said many of the objects seen may have been planes rather than drones.

The unmanned aircraft are legal in the state for recreational and commercial use but are subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions. Operators must be FAA certified.

A drone operator helps retrieve a drone April 29, 2018, after photographing over Hart Island in New York.

Who regulates drones?

The FAA is responsible for the regulations governing their use, and Congress wrote some requirements into law.

With a 2018 law, the Preventing Emerging Threats Act, Congress gave certain agencies in the Homeland Security and Justice departments authority to counter threats from unmanned aircraft to protect the safety of certain facilities.

New drones must be outfitted with equipment allowing law enforcement to identify the operator, and Congress gave the agencies the power to detect and take down unmanned aircraft that they consider dangerous.

The law spells out where the counter-drone measures can be used, including "national special security events" such as presidential inaugurations and other large gatherings of people.

A U.S. senator called for mysterious drones spotted over the sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region to be “shot down, if necessary."

“We should be doing some very urgent intelligence analysis and take them out of the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut said, as concerns about the drones spread across Capitol Hill.

Michael Jones operates his drone, April 2, 2021, in Goldsboro, N.C. A federal appeals court ruled May 20 that the North Carolina board that regulates land surveyors didn't violate the drone photography pilot's constitutional rights when it told him to stop advertising and offering aerial map services because he lacked a state license.

What does it take to be a drone pilot?

To get a "remote pilot certificate," you must be at least 16 years old, be proficient in English, pass an aeronautics exam and not suffer from a "mental condition that would interfere with the safe operation of a small unmanned aircraft system."

Are drones allowed to fly at night?

Yes, but the FAA imposes restrictions on nighttime operations.

Most drones are not allowed to fly at night unless they are equipped with anti-collision lights that are visible for at least 3 miles.

The White House says a review of the reported drone sightings flying over sensitive areas in New Jersey and other parts of the Mid-Atlantic region has so far revealed no evidence of a "national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus."

Are drones a hazard?

Over the past decade, pilots reported hundreds of close calls between drones and airplanes, including airline jets. In some cases, airplane pilots had to take evasive action to avoid collisions.

Drones buzzing over a runway caused flights to be stopped at London's Gatwick Airport during the Christmas travel rush in 2018 and again in May 2023. Police dismissed the idea of shooting down the drones, fearing that stray bullets could kill someone.

Advances in drone technology made it harder for law enforcement to find rogue drone operators — bigger drones in particular have more range and power.

An exhibitor demonstrates a drone flight Jan. 5, 2017, at CES International in Las Vegas.

Will rules get tougher?

Some state and local officials in New Jersey called for stronger restrictions because of the recent sightings, and that has the drone industry worried.

Scott Shtofman, director of government affairs at the Association for Uncrewed Vehicle Systems International, said putting more limits on drones could have a "chilling effect" on "a growing economic engine for the United States."

"We would definitely oppose anything that is blindly pushing for new regulation of what are right now legal drone operations," he said.

AirSight, a company that sells software against "drone threats," says more than 20 states enacted laws against privacy invasion by drones, including Peeping Toms.

Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College in New Jersey and founder of its drone program, says it's up to users to reduce public concern about the machines. He said operators must explain why they are flying when confronted by people worried about privacy or safety.

"It's a brand new technology that's not really understood real well, so it will raise fear and anxiety in a lot of people," Austin said. "We want to be good professional aviators and alleviate that."

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