Drones latest: Biden insists flying objects pose ‘no danger’ as FBI issues urgent firearm and laser warning

Members of the the House Intelligence Committee are expected to receive a classified briefing on the mystery, CNN reports.

Democratic Representative Jim Himes, a member of the committee, told Fox News over the weekend he is frustrated with the current lack of information.

“There are a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Himes said.

“The answer ‘we don’t know’ is not a good enough answer when people are anxious, when they are nervous, and this has been true since we’ve been a species on this planet.”

“It is not the Iranians, it is not the Chinese. They aren’t Martians.”

Here’s John Bowden with more on Hines’s exasperation.

Law enforcement in New Jersey has been forced to warn local citizens against taking matters into their own hands and attempting to shoot down the unidentified flying objects and risking injury, according to ABC News, as the demand for answers continues to grow.

The FBI in Newark and New Jersey State Police warned on Monday that there has been an increase in pilots “being hit in the eyes with lasers because people on the ground think they see an Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS).”

“We’re also concerned people will take matters into their own hands and fire a weapon at an aircraft,” FBI Newark Acting Special Agent in Charge Nelson Delgado said in a video message released on Monday.

“Not only is this act against the law, but it poses an incredible danger to the pilots and passengers on those aircraft.”

Dozens of agencies have been working to find answers and track down any operators acting “illegally or with nefarious intent”, the FBI office said.

“However, there could be dangerous and possibly deadly consequences if manned aircraft are targeted mistakenly as UAS.”

Good morning!

The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) have released the following joint statement seeking to downplay the drones, which is presented here in its entirety:

“There are more than one million drones lawfully registered with the FAA in the United States and there are thousands of commercial, hobbyist and law enforcement drones lawfully in the sky on any given day. With the technology landscape evolving, we expect that number to increase over time.

“FBI has received tips of more than 5,000 reported drone sightings in the last few weeks with approximately 100 leads generated, and the federal government is supporting state and local officials in investigating these reports. Consistent with each of our unique missions and authorities, we are quickly working to prioritize and follow these leads. We have sent advanced detection technology to the region. And we have sent trained visual observers.

“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly reported as drones. We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.

“That said, we recognize the concern among many communities. We continue to support state and local authorities with advanced detection technology and support of law enforcement. We urge Congress to enact counter-UAS legislation when it reconvenes that would extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge.

“Additionally, there have been a limited number of visual sightings of drones over military facilities in New Jersey and elsewhere, including within restricted air space. Such sightings near or over DoD installations are not new. DoD takes unauthorized access over its airspace seriously and coordinates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as appropriate. Local commanders are actively engaged to ensure there are appropriate detection and mitigation measures in place.”

Some of the drone spottings across several states in the US could be cases of “mistaken identity,” with residents unknowingly reporting legally-operated small aircraft, DHS and FBI officials have said.

DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas also said some drones could be commercial.

The FBI has received some 5,000 tips regarding drone activity, but fewer than 100 were “deemed worthy of further investigative activity.” an agency spokesperson said over the weekend.

Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar called for increased transparency from federal officials on the mystery drone sightings across several states.

“One, we need a briefing for the members of the Senate to figure out what’s going on here,” Klobuchar told CBS News. “Two, we need more transparency.”

Members of the House Intelligence Committee are set to receive a classified briefing on the drones Tuesday, CNN reports.

MAGA Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has claimed that the US government is “in control of the drones” that have been spotted over New Jersey and New York in recent weeks, which officials have so far been unable or unwilling to account for.

Greene, who is well known for amplifying online conspiracy theories, wrote on X late on Saturday night: “The government is in control of the drones and refuses to tell the American people what is going on. It really is that bad.”

The congresswoman offered no evidence to support her claim but followed up with a second post, which went viral when it was shared by podcaster Joe Rogan, featuring a video from drone manufacturer John Ferguson.

Read more:

Members of the House Intelligence Committee will receive a classified briefing Tuesday on the mysterious drone spottings, CNN reports.

Democratic Representative Jim Himes, a member of the committee, told Fox News over the weekend he’s frustrated with the current lack of information.

“There are a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” Himes said. “The answer ‘we don’t know’ is not a good enough answer when people are anxious, when they are nervous, and this has been true since we’ve been a species on this planet.”

“It is not the Iranians, it is not the Chinese. They aren’t Martians,” he added.