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Is it a bird? Is it a plane? Is it a hostile craft stealing state secrets? Such questions remain somewhat unanswered in New Jersey, where a slew of drone sightings has sparked conspiracies and genuine concern.
New York has been sent drone detection equipment after Stewart International Airport was shut due to a sighting, while Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for similar tools to be sent to New Jersey.
Although some drones have been spotted over critical infrastructure, the FBI says it has no evidence they “have a foreign nexus” or pose a security threat. Of the 5,000 tips the FBI has received, fewer than 100 have generated credible leads.
Occam’s razor may prove useful here. Last year the Federal Aviation Administration changed the rules to allow drones to fly at night, while the FBI says all the large fixed-wing sightings so far involve manned aircraft.
Hobbyist drones and misidentification are more credible explanations than an Iranian mothership trying its luck.
