NJ Military Base Had 11 'Confirmed' Mystery Drone Sightings, Army Says

Picatinny Arsenal, the Army facility in Morris County, has had 11 confirmed sightings of unauthorized drones flying over in its airspace in recent weeks, military officials said.

The first confirmed sighting at Picatinny witnessed by a police or security officer at the arsenal was Nov. 13, five days earlier than previously reported, Army officials said Monday. Seven other sightings remained unconfirmed, including one reported Friday at the military research and manufacturing facility in Jefferson and Rockaway Township.

“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.

It is illegal to fly unauthorized drones over military bases. The FAA added additional drone flight restrictions over Picatinny and Trump National Golf Club in Somerset County last week.

The sightings at the Army facility were among the earliest reported in a flood of drone sightings in recent weeks around the state. Residents have reported multiple drones flying over the same areas of New Jersey each night along with unusually large drones, the kind not usually used by hobbyists, over some areas.

It is unclear if the drone sightings are related. Gov. Phil Murphy and other law enforcement officials have said there is no evidence the unexplained drones pose a threat to the state. The FBI is investigating the sightings statewide, including the reports at Picatinny Arsenal.

Murphy said there were 49 reports of drone sighting statewide on Sunday, but some of those turned out to be planes mistakenly identified as drones. Investigators were looking into the other reports.

Picatinny Arsenal released a list Monday of the dates of 18 sightings, including the 11 confirmed incidents. “Confirmed” means a police officer or security guard “visibly witnessed a drone” while or after receiving the report, military officials said.

Picatinny Arsenal’s list also includes seven “unconfirmed” reports of drones, which means a police officer received a call but was “unable to verify the object upon arriving on the scene,” Army officials said. Two of the unconfirmed reports were listed as “aircraft.”

Bonham said Picatinny Arsenal officials immediately began investigating the initial reports, with several local, state, and federal partners.

The FBI, the lead agency in the investigation, did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the sightings at Picatinny.

The Picatinny Arsenal Police Department received the reports of the evening drone activity.

Confirmed sightings occurred Nov. 13, Nov. 18, Nov. 19, and Nov. 24, when there were two, as well as nightly between Nov. 28 and Nov. 30. There were also two confirmed sightings on Dec. 3 and one on Dec. 6.

There were two unconfirmed sightings Nov. 26, one Dec. 2, three Dec. 4, and one Dec. 6.

At Naval Weapons Station Earle in Colts Neck, officials said they are actively monitoring the drone sightings.

“While we have received reports from our neighboring communities and law enforcement partners regarding drone activity near the installation, there have been no reports of drone activity in the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle at this time,” said Bill Addison, a spokesman for the station.

Officials at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in Burlington County referred questions about whether the base has had any drone sightings to the FBI.

Staff writer Nyah Marshall contributed to this report.

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