On a seemingly quiet Thursday evening, Hillsborough, New Jersey, was thrust into chaos following an incident involving an alleged drone crash. This event was part of a growing pattern of mysterious drone sightings, with reports indicating that large, car-sized drones have been seen in the area nearly every day. Local authorities and residents expressed their frustration with the lack of clarity and response from the Pentagon regarding this sophisticated drone activity. Many of these drones reportedly become evasive and undetectable when chased by police drones or helicopters, heightening concerns about their presence and purpose in the community.
The situation escalated around 8:34 p.m. when Hillsborough police received a call about drones spotted in the vicinity of the Lowe’s parking lot. A witness claimed that one of the drones crashed into a nearby field after colliding with high-tension power lines. This report triggered a multi-agency search-and-rescue operation, which involved various local agencies, including the Hillsborough Office of Emergency Management and fire departments, the State Police Aviation Unit, and hazardous materials specialists. Responders worked throughout the night, utilizing both aerial and ground searches to locate the downed drone.
As the dawn broke, the search intensified with drone support from the Millstone Valley Fire Department and additional ground teams from Somerset County’s Hazardous Material Unit. However, despite nearly 16 hours of thorough searching, no evidence of the crash was discovered, leading to the operation being called off by noon the following day. This lack of findings unsettled local residents, especially as the situation had escalated to warrant involvement from both state and federal officials. In response, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy reached out to President Joe Biden, expressing serious concerns over the ongoing drone activity in the state’s airspace.
In his correspondence, Governor Murphy highlighted the growing prevalence of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) within New Jersey, emphasizing the risks these drones pose to public safety, privacy, and national security. He noted that existing laws restrict the capabilities of state and local law enforcement in addressing UAS-related issues, thus placing the responsibility of effective management on federal authorities. Governor Murphy reported that since November 18th, New Jersey State Police had received numerous UAS sighting reports and outlined the limitations that hinder state and local agencies’ ability to combat such occurrences.
The governor also stressed the importance of federal assistance in understanding the nature of the drone activity. In his letter, he acknowledged the efforts of the FBI, which has been spearheading an interagency investigation into the reports. He articulated the necessity for more resources and collaborative action among federal agencies to uncover the underlying causes of these drones’ frequent sightings. Furthermore, he referred to a recent congressional testimony by the FBI, indicating that the federal government alone could not address UAS issues, highlighting the need for concrete information to alleviate the rising public concern and the emergence of conspiracy theories.
Moreover, with heightened tensions around national security, particularly as New Jersey prepares to host significant events like the FIFA World Cup Final in the near future, Governor Murphy called for legislative action to extend counter-UAS capabilities to local law enforcement and additional funding to support these initiatives. He expressed optimism that there is growing consensus in Congress regarding the need for more robust measures and expressed his dedication to ensuring that New Jersey residents receive clarity and safety concerning these drone sightings, advocating for a coordinated approach to address the mysterious presence of unmanned aircraft in their airspace.
