Editorial | US drones hysteria calls for calm heads
Despite clear explanations, mysterious sightings over New Jersey have been linked to China and even an Iranian mother ship
Sightings of mysterious drones over New Jersey and other parts of the United States this past month have sparked concern and demands for explanations from the authorities. The sightings stirred such a public frenzy that the Federal Aviation Administration decided to ban drone flying for a month in 22 locations over the northeast US state out of an “abundance of caution”.
The ban came after some on the ground were pointing handheld lasers at real aircraft, or threatening to shoot down drones, posing genuine risks. Since the surge in sightings in November, authorities have described the objects as aircraft, helicopters, commercial devices, law enforcement drones, or those flown by hobbyists – and even stars in the night sky.
The US has around 1 million registered drones that make 42 million flights annually. The Federal Bureau of Investigation said all large fixed-wing aircraft sightings were found to be manned, not drones.
A Department of Homeland Security spokesman said it had no evidence of threats to public safety, or of any foreign involvement.
The official explanations have not stopped the rumour mill. One US congressman said the drones were coming from an Iranian mother ship, a claim the Pentagon rejected as untrue.
