New Jersey drone incident heightens tensions amid surge of mystery sightings

A drone crash in a New Jersey backyard on Thursday evening has further fueled concerns over recent mysterious aerial phenomena in the region.

The Pequannock Township incident occurred around 8:45 pm, when a "hobby or toy-type" drone fell onto a homeowner’s property, according to local authorities.

The Pequannock Police Department confirmed that the device was not a military-grade or commercial aircraft, as initially reported by the New York Post.

This incident comes amidst growing anxiety over drone activity near highly sensitive locations, such as the Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County.

The US military facility, which develops weaponry, has experienced multiple drone sightings in recent weeks, raising fears of potential espionage by foreign actors.

Pequannock Township Mayor Ryan Herd visited the crash site, expressing concern about unauthorized drones invading private property.

He warned residents not to attempt to down drones themselves, cautioning that such actions could lead to accidents.

"Drones are flying over our houses, which is our private property. My family is here," Herd told the New York Post.

Later reports of a drone allegedly hitting a powerline in Randolph Township were debunked by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office, who confirmed the incident was unsubstantiated.

In response to growing drone activity, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has imposed temporary flight restrictions over key locations in New Jersey, including Picatinny Arsenal and the Bedminster golf course, owned by President-elect Donald Trump.

These measures come after a series of unexplained drone sightings in the area.

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy addressed the growing concern earlier this week, referring to the drones as “very sophisticated” but assured the public that there was no immediate threat.

He encouraged federal authorities to investigate the sightings, while advising against shooting down drones. Murphy suggested that residents capture drones for study instead.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby confirmed that federal investigators have been unable to substantiate over 3,000 reports of large, car-sized drones patrolling US skies.

Pentagon officials have stated they do not believe these drones are linked to foreign governments.