Beginning in mid-November 2024, reports of unidentified drones flooded in from New Jersey before expanding across numerous other states, creating a national mystery that drew attention from Congress, the Pentagon, and millions of Americans watching the skies.
How It Started
The saga began on November 13, 2024, after a swarm of drones was spotted over the Picatinny Arsenal Army base in Morris County, New Jersey. Over the following weeks, sightings spread rapidly.
What People Saw
Observers described drones that emitted a loud hum, were reportedly as large as cars, and sometimes flew without navigation lights. Law enforcement said the drones sometimes appeared to fly in a coordinated pattern and could remain in flight for up to six hours. The drones primarily operated at night and reportedly turned off lights and evaded police helicopters when approached.
Witnesses described sightings over residential areas and near sensitive locations including military installations, emergency communication centers, nuclear power plants, and critical infrastructure.
The Government Response
National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said there was no evidence that the drones posed a threat to national security or had a "foreign nexus." The federal government used "very sophisticated electronic detection technologies" in its investigation and determined that "many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully."
The FBI launched a hotline for reports, receiving approximately 5,000 sightings, with only a small fraction deemed worthy of further investigation.
The Explanations
Several explanations emerged. In January 2025, the Trump administration stated the aircraft were primarily FAA-authorized drones. A White House spokesperson said the drones "were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons."
A private defense contractor reportedly admitted at an Army summit that their 20-foot aircraft was behind part of the scare, claiming their aircraft was performing exercises to "test out their capabilities." The operations were reportedly not required to be disclosed to the public due to the company's government contract.
Officials also determined that some alleged drone sightings were actually airplanes mistaken for drones, and Reserve and National Guard units were operating drones in the area.
Lingering Questions
Despite official explanations, questions remain. Military officials confirmed hundreds of drone incursions over bases during 2024 and announced a new counter-drone rapid reaction force. Some communities along the affected areas report they are still in the dark about why their skies were lit up for weeks.