Drone Crashes into NJ Homeowner’s Backyard as Increased Sightings Reported
Reports of unexplained drone sightings near critical military and civilian locations in New Jersey have raised alarms among residents and officials. This includes incidents at the Picatinny Arsenal, a vital U.S. Army installation and two recent reported drone crashes in residential and commercial areas.
The Pequannock Police Department confirmed that a drone crashed into a New Jersey homeowner’s backyard on Thursday evening around 8:45 p.m., according to the New York Post. The device was identified by local authorities as a “hobby or toy type of drone” and not a commercial or military-grade model.
The crash resulted in Pequannock Mayor Ryan Herd arriving on scene to inspect the damage. He confirmed to The Post that “it is definitely not” a larger drone that has been reported in the state.
Herd expressed being “absolutely” concerned over “nobody knowing whose drones are flying over us and what they’re flying over us for and where they’re taking off and landing.”
He added, “Drones are flying over our houses, which is our private property. My family is here.”
The growing unease was further compounded by another reported drone crash in Hillsborough, New Jersey, on the same night. A local resident alerted authorities to a drone that had fallen into a field near a Lowe’s store at approximately 8:34 p.m., according to the Daily Mail. Police launched a search on Friday morning but called off the operation by noon after finding no evidence.
The increase in drone activity has prompted warnings from state officials about possible “copycat” incidents. New Jersey state police speculate that what started as a surveillance operation near the Picatinny Arsenal may have led to individuals mimicking the behavior after the incidents gained attention online.
The Picatinny Arsenal, home to the U.S. Army’s Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center, has been a site of concern due to multiple unexplained drone sightings. The facility plays a critical role in military operations, which has raised alarms about potential vulnerabilities.
This situation is not limited to New Jersey. Former Republican Maryland Governor Larry Hogan recently shared his own experience with mysterious drone sightings, posting on X about spotting “dozens of large drones in the sky” over his home in Davidsonville, Maryland.
“Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know if this increasing activity over our skies is a threat to public safety or national security,” he wrote. “But the public is growing increasingly concerned and frustrated with the complete lack of transparency and the dismissive attitude of the federal government.”
While drone sightings have become a significant concern in the U.S., they are not confined to the country. International reports have fueled growing unease about the rising presence of unmanned aerial vehicles near sensitive locations worldwide.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Air Force confirmed that drones were spotted over the U.S. air base at Ramstein in Germany earlier this month, further raising alarms about the global implications of such incidents.
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