Experts address New Jersey drone sightings to ease public anxiety

Amid growing public concern over mysterious drone sightings in New Jersey, experts are stepping forward to provide clarity and promote balanced discourse around the technology. Reports of drones, some described as car-sized clusters, flying at night have sparked alarm, particularly in areas near sensitive locations like Bedminster and Picatinny Arsenal. While these sightings have prompted an FBI investigation, drone technology leaders stress the importance of separating fact from fiction to prevent undue fear and overregulation.

Will Austin, president of Warren County Community College and a prominent figure in drone education, has emerged as a voice of reason during this media frenzy. Austin, who spearheaded the college’s nationally recognized WarrenUAS program, has reviewed numerous videos of the reported sightings. His analysis suggests that many incidents involve misidentified manned aircraft or legally operated small drones, such as the DJI Mavic 3.

“After analyzing numerous videos shared by concerned citizens, I’m inclined to believe that many of the reported ‘large drones’ were actually manned aircraft mistakenly identified as drones. So far, I haven’t found any proof to substantiate claims about drones weighing over 55 pounds being in use at night in New Jersey,” Austin shared in recent interviews. “Public concern is valid, but it’s essential to understand that most drones operate safely and are often used for beneficial purposes like search and rescue or agricultural monitoring.”

The WarrenUAS program trains students in safe drone operation, maintenance, and programming. With over 100 systems valued at $5 million and two state-of-the-art facilities, the program is preparing graduates for careers across law enforcement, environmental protection, and more.

Also see: Can you legally shoot down a drone?

Meanwhile, the FBI is actively investigating the New Jersey sightings and has asked the public to submit photos or videos of the drones to help identify their origins. Officials have ruled out typical recreational drone activity due to the reported drones’ unusual size and formation patterns. For now, authorities consider the incidents more of an annoyance than an imminent safety threat, but public interest in the matter remains high.

This is why Austin warns against reactionary policies stemming from public misunderstanding. Drones are a game-changer for industries like agriculture, firefighting, and public safety, he explains. But misconceptions — driven by pop culture’s association of drones with espionage or warfare — could hinder innovation.

Austin is collaborating with Jonathan Rupprecht, an attorney specializing in drone law, to educate the public about responsible drone use. Together, they emphasize that the vast majority of drone operators are ethical hobbyists or professionals adhering to strict regulations.

In the meantime, concerned citizens can utilize two free drone-tracking apps — Drone Scanner and Air Sentinel — that allow users to identify nearby drones and their operators. These tools empower communities to stay informed and reduce unfounded fears about drone activity.

It’s also important to note that the current wave of drone sightings coincides with the broader public fascination with Urban Air Mobility (UAM) — a vision of integrating car-sized aerial vehicles into the airspace for transportation within the next few years. Austin believes some sightings could stem from heightened awareness and misidentifications as public interest in drones grows.

“This spike in drone reports underscores a rising public fascination with drones as the future of Urban Air Mobility, that will place car size drone like aircraft into the national airspace over the next two years, gets closer to becoming reality,” Austin says. “For now, though, most of these sightings appear to involve small 2-3 pound recreational drones or misidentifications when concerning alleged sightings of drones over 55lbs. It’s a great opportunity to keep this dialogue going while distinguishing perception and understandable anxiety from the actual evidence.”

Read more: Chinese man arrested for flying drone over US Space Force Base