Getty ImagesNearly a month's worth of drone sightings over New Jersey remain mysterious, sparking fear among residents and intense debate about what the flying objects were, and whether they were drones at all.
The US authorities were unable to provide specific answers, saying only that these items were not believed to pose a threat to public or national security.
White House national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday that available images indicate that many of the reported drone sightings were in fact manned aircraft.
But some lawmakers have criticized the government's handling of drones and the lack of information available to the public.
Here's what we know about the drones and the subsequent investigation.
Where have drones been spotted?
Dozens of drones have been reported over New Jersey since Nov. 18, according to local authorities.
The drones were initially spotted near the Raritan River, a waterway that feeds Round Valley Reservoir, the largest in New Jersey, the Associated Press reported.
Sightings soon spread to other parts of the state, including coastal New Jersey.
Some of the flights were spotted near Picatinny Arsenal, a sensitive military research facility, as well as near President-elect Donald Trump's golf course in Bedminster, New Jersey.
In nearby New York City, several drones were reported flying over the Bronx on December 12, a police official told CBS News, the BBC's partner in the US.
Officers responding to the incident saw drones flying overhead, but they disappeared shortly afterwards.
Drones have also been reported in other parts of the state, according to New York State Police.
Police in Connecticut also confirmed that “suspicious drone activity” had occurred in various parts of the state. A drone detection system has been deployed around the cities of Groton and New London.
In Maryland, former Republican Governor Larry Hogan claimed to have seen what appeared to be “dozens” of drones over his residence in Davidsonville, about 25 miles (40 km) from Washington, D.C.
“Like many who have observed these drones, I do not know whether this increased activity over our skies represents a threat to public safety or national security,” he wrote on X. “But the public is increasingly concerned and frustrated by the complete lack of transparency and dismissive stance of the federal government.”
In late November, the US Air Force also confirmed that unidentified drones had been spotted over three US air bases in the UK: RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, and RAF Feltwell in Norfolk.
British defense sources told the BBC that there were doubts that a “state actor” was responsible for the incursions.
In October, the Wall Street Journal also reported that mysterious drones had been sighted for 17 days near US military installations in Virginia.
What are these flying objects?
Getty ImagesIt remains a mystery.
But federal and state authorities said they did not believe it posed a danger or threat to US national security.
After a briefing with the Department of Homeland Security on December 11, New Jersey State Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia said drones appear to evade detection by traditional methods such as helicopters and radio.
The drones are up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter, travel with the lights off and “operate in a coordinated manner,” Fantasia said.
Her comments stand in stark contrast to the White House, which noted that these were “manned aircraft.”
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security also said the majority of sightings appeared to be legal manned flights.
The statement added that nothing was reported in the restricted airspace.
Where did they come from?
If the objects are confirmed to be drones – which is still far from clear at this point – it is unclear who might be operating them.
Citing anonymous “senior sources,” New Jersey Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew said they were coming from an Iranian “mother ship” in the Atlantic.
The Pentagon quickly rejected the comment, saying, “There is no truth to that.”
“There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States, and there is no so-called mother ship launching drones toward the United States,” Deputy Ministry Spokesperson Sabrina Singh told reporters.
Another lawmaker, Democratic Illinois Rep. Raja Krishnamurthy — a member of a congressional committee that looks at the Chinese Communist Party — told NewsNation there was a “non-trivial” chance China would participate.
“It's certainly a possibility, and the likelihood that they will then be able to access the data that these drones collect is very high,” he said.
The Pentagon and the White House have insisted that there is no foreign source for these parts.
Van Drew and other lawmakers have backed away from that denial.
“Here's the deal: They don't know what it is. They don't know what it's about,” Van Drew told Fox News. “They have no idea where it comes from, but they know what it's not about? That's nonsense.”
Getty ImagesCan drones be stopped?
Several lawmakers suggested that the drones should be shot down and analyzed to determine their origin and intentions.
The US Federal Aviation Administration has also imposed temporary flight restrictions prohibiting drone flights over Bedminster and Picatinny.
In a statement, the FAA also warned that drone operators who conduct unsafe or dangerous operations could face fines of up to $75,000 (£59,000) and the cancellation of their drone pilot certificates.
In a letter to US President Joe Biden published on December 13, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy urged federal agencies to “work together” to solve the puzzle, as well as pushing Congress to expand counter-drone capabilities to include local law enforcement.
Some residents have indicated they may take action against drones themselves.
“A good gun will solve this problem,” one man commented on a drone video on social media.
