Mysterious aircraft are flying over New Jersey

The hundreds of mystery New Jersey drone sightings are fueling growing calls for a more robust federal reaction, as fresh sightings are reported in New York, Pennsylvania, and Maryland.

According to a federal official, the FBI, in collaboration with the New Jersey State Police, is leading the investigation. Local law enforcement is also investigating.

Multiple sightings have also been recorded in New York City, Rockland County, eastern Pennsylvania, and Maryland. The NYPD said on Thursday that numerous drones were observed flying above a Bronx neighborhood, but the drones vanished shortly after police responded to complaints regarding the sightings.

“What is happening is outrageous. Thousands of drones and unmanned aerial systems flying above us, and our government is not telling us who’s operating them and for what purpose,” Rep. Nicole Malliotakis, R-N.Y., said a press conference in Staten Island on Friday.

“I don’t believe that the United States of America, with its military capabilities, does not know what these objects are. And what I’m asking, and what we’re all asking, is for you to be straight with us and just tell us what is going on,” Malliotakis said.

In a letter to President Biden, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy urged greater resources to be focused toward studying what's driving the rising activity involving drones, also known as unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS.

"The continued reporting of UAS activity has raised more questions than answers and prompted an outcropping of conspiracy theories across social media and other platforms," Murphy said in a Thursday letter that he posted to social media Friday. "I respectfully urge you to continue to direct the federal agencies involved to work together until they uncover answers as to what is behind the UAS sightings."

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Friday that there was no indication that the drones constituted a threat, and that officials were working with the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and other federal agencies.

White House national security spokesman John Kirby said Thursday that "we have not been able to corroborate any of the reported visual sightings" and that many of the drones are manned aircraft operating legally.

On Friday evening, President-elect Trump called on authorities to shoot down the strange drones that have been sighted in the skies of New Jersey and around the country.

He also proposed that the authorities should learn more about the unusual encounters.

“Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shot them down!!! DJT” the incoming president wrote on Truth Social.