Aliens, spy balloons, or drones? Mystery objects fly over US

Unidentified flying objects said to be the size of sports utility vehicles have been spotted flying over parts of the northeastern US, prompting investigations by law enforcement and the FBI as elected officials urge the public not to panic.

The Federal Aviation Administration, meanwhile, has temporarily banned drone flights over president-elect Donald Trump’s golf club and a major military research and manufacturing facility, both in New Jersey, in response to the mysterious lights in the sky.

Videos of the flying objects over New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania have appeared on Bluesky and other social media sites for weeks, with users questioning whether the lights in the sky were alien ships, spy balloons, or just really creepy unmanned drones.

On December 4, New Jersey officials acknowledged the sightings and assured the public that the FBI and Homeland Security are on the case. Plus, they want the public to report any information to the FBI (1-800-225-5324) and upload videos to tips[.]fbi[.]gov.

“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,” according to a joint statement by eight Morris and Somerset County police chiefs, detectives, and other top cops and prosecutors across the north and central New Jersey.

“The subject County Prosecutor’s, Sheriff’s and Emergency Management Offices, our respective municipal police departments, working in close cooperation with the FBI-Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness partners, seek to reassure the public that we will continue to monitor and investigate the drone activity.”

A day later, New Jersey governor Phil Murphy said he met with US secretary of homeland security Alejandro Mayorkas, other DHS officials, state police, and members of Congress about the drone reports. While the state and federal agencies “are actively monitoring the situation,” Murphy wrote on X, “there is no known threat to the public at this time.”

More eerie lights in the sky were observed over parts of Pennsylvania, across the Delaware River from New Jersey, and New York’s Staten Island as well. The Register contacted to the other two states’ governors’ offices for comment and did not receive an immediate response.

We’ve also asked the FBI for comment and will update this story if and when we hear back about where they are hiding the aliens and how many people have been abducted.

The flying objects have also been spotted near president-elect Donald Trump’s New Jersey golf club and on December 9 the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that it issued two temporary flight restrictions prohibiting drone flights over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base and Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.

The government agency began receiving reports of drone activity near Morris County nearly a month ago, beginning November 18, an FAA spokesperson told The Register. The agency issued the drone bans “at the request of federal security partners,” the spokesperson added.

“Safely integrating drones into the National Airspace System is a key priority for the FAA,” they continued. “We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate. Drone operators who conduct unsafe operations that endanger other aircraft or people on the ground could face fines up to $75,000.”

No word, however, on what happens if the lights in the sky turn out to be spacecraft sent from another planet. Hopefully, they come in peace. If not, The Register welcomes our new alien overlords and would like to remind them that as a trusted tech news website, our staff could be helpful in rounding up others to toil at whatever tasks they require. ®