New Jersey drone mystery: What to know and what can be done

Since mid-November, what are believed by many to be large aerial drones have been spotted at night throughout central and northern New Jersey, causing concern for residents who have been posting videos of the aircraft on their social media accounts and prompting increasing demands from local and state officials for answers.

Lawmakers from New York and New Jersey this week sent a letter to the heads of the FBI, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), requesting that the agencies brief them on the issue.

"We write with urgent concern regarding the unmanned aerial system (UAS) activity that has affected communities across New York and New Jersey in recent days," the letter from New York Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand and New Jersey Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim stated. They asked to be briefed "as soon as possible on how your agencies are working with federal and local law enforcement to identify and address the source of these incursions."

While lawmakers and citizens alike await answers, here's what to know about the purported drone sightings.

Who's operating the purported drones, and why?

According to a DHS handout, "it is unclear who is operating the drones," but "the State of New Jersey and its agencies are not involved in the operation of these reported drones." The statement noted that determining the operators is "an aspect of the ongoing federal investigation."

Similarly, the DHS said there is as yet no "specific details about the drones," such as their manufacturer or model, and that while "drones are generally required to have tracking capabilities … not all drones comply, and investigations are ongoing to identify the operators."

Are the purported drones dangerous?

"At this time, according to the FBI, there are no known specific or credible threats related to these sightings," the DHS handout states.

During a press briefing Thursday, White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby echoed the DHS statement, and said there was "no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat." He added that "upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully."

Could the drone sightings actually be something else?

It is possible that some people may be mistaking general aviation, commercial or military aircraft for drones. "Drone activity can sometimes be mistaken for general aviation aircraft, such as planes or smaller helicopters, due to several overlapping characteristics," according to the DHS, including "advanced capabilities that allow them to mimic the flight patterns of helicopters or small planes, such as hovering or making rapid directional changes."

During his briefing Thursday, Kirby also said that federal authorities and state and local law enforcement "have not been able to … corroborate any of the reported visual sightings. To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully."

Mine Hill, New Jersey Mayor Sam Morris called Kirby's claim "ridiculous," telling ABC News it was "really insulting to all the people here who are living through this."

"Come on out, Mr. Kirby. And let's go out one night about 9:30, 10:00," Morris said. "I'll go out behind my town hall. And you can count them with me all night."

Can someone shoot down, capture or disable a drone?

Drones generally can't be shot down or captured, for both legal and safety reasons, according to the DHS: "Shooting down a drone can pose safety risks to people and property on the ground. Debris from a downed drone can cause injury or damage, especially in populated areas.

Additionally, the small size and maneuverability of drones make them difficult targets, even if there should be a reason to shoot them down. And while "non-kinetic methods such as jamming or hacking can be used" to disable drones, "they require sophisticated technology and expertise," the DHS says.

It's also not a good idea to shoot them down yourself. Doing so in New Jersey, for example, is illegal and violates federal law, since drones are regulated by the FAA. According to the DHS, any person who shoots down a drone could be fined up to $250,000 and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

State and local authorities also have little to no say legally regarding drone activity, since drones are FAA regulated.

What should you do if you see a drone?

The DHS recommends that anyone who sees what they consider to be suspicious drone activity should report it to their local police. If you live in New Jersey, you can also report it to the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Counter-Threat Watch Unit at 866-4-SAFE-NJ (1-866-472-3365) or tips@njohsp.gov.