The story of mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey continues to dominate the headlines. In this guest post from New Jersey-based Dr. Will Austin, a call for realistic assessment of what’s in the sky. DRONELIFE neither accepts nor makes payment for guest posts.
No, There Aren’t Mysterious Large Drones Over New Jersey: It’s Time for Leadership and Facts
By Dr. Will Austin, President, Warren County Community College
In recent weeks, reports of “mysterious drones” flying over New Jersey have dominated headlines, sparking public curiosity, media frenzy, and even political concern. As a national drone expert and the President of Warren County Community College—home to New Jersey’s most advanced drone training program—I feel compelled to share what we know. Despite widespread claims, the evidence simply doesn’t support the existence of large drones in our night skies. What we are witnessing instead is a combination of misidentification, media amplification, and a sociological phenomenon that warrants careful consideration—not panic.
When the Story Began
I first heard about the drone sightings on November 19th from James Kern, leader of our elected county commission and a former Warren County Community College student. Curious but skeptical, I tasked my aviation students with monitoring the skies. After weeks of observation, their findings have remained consistent: we’ve only seen small drones—the kind you’d expect in New Jersey’s suburban and affluent areas.
By November 26th, the Morristown Daily Record reached out for comment. I explained that these sightings were likely caused by recreational FAA Trust-certified pilots, small commercial drones, or perhaps a misunderstood flyaway incident from nearby Picatinny Arsenal. But the media’s appetite for the “mystery drone” story grew quickly. Major outlets like USA Today picked up the narrative, transforming it into a national headline and, soon after, a political football.
While many were caught up in the intrigue, I went about my normal Thanksgiving holiday. When I returned to work, the story had snowballed, and I began receiving calls from state and national media. As the college that trains New Jersey’s drone pilots, we were naturally seen as a source of expertise. I welcomed the opportunity to set the record straight.
What the Evidence Shows
Despite growing eyewitness reports and videos, the evidence overwhelmingly points to misidentification. Over the last month, reporters have sent me photos, videos, and questions. Time and time again, the “large drones” people claim to see turn out to be airplanes, small drones, or even celestial objects like Jupiter, which has been particularly bright in New Jersey’s night sky this season.
In every case where I’ve reviewed visuals and data, the explanation is clear. Yet the narrative of “mysterious drones” persists. To date, I have not seen a single large drone—defined as weighing over 55 pounds—in flight over New Jersey, despite weeks of diligent searching and investigation.
Federal tracking software backs up these findings. On December 14th, 12 drones were logged flying in the entire state of New Jersey, and only one was detected the following day. Considering there are over 20,000 registered drones in the state, this data should be enough to dispel the myth of a coordinated fleet of large drones.
The Role of Mass Misidentification
How did we get here? As both an aviation expert and a sociologist, I believe we’re witnessing a case of “Mass Sociogenic Technophobia”—a modern form of shared panic driven by fear of technology. This phenomenon occurs when people, influenced by trusted voices, begin to report experiences that align with the dominant narrative.
When politicians, media outlets, and community members report seeing drones, others follow suit, believing their eyes must confirm the same. Night flying makes the situation worse. At night, the parallax effect—a familiar concept in aviation—can cause stationary objects to appear to hover or move unpredictably. Airplanes flying at a distance, for example, can be mistaken for drones, especially when lights or shadows obscure their true form.
I saw this play out firsthand when I appeared on major networks like FOX News, CNN, and MSNBC. While examining videos live on-air, I pointed out the obvious: these were airplanes or small drones, not the large, hovering objects described. Even well-intentioned officials, like Senator Andy Kim, have admitted to misidentifying aircraft as drones due to distrust or frustration with the federal government’s response.
Why It Matters
This situation is about more than just sensational headlines—it has real consequences. At WarrenUAS, we train students to work in one of the fastest-growing industries in the world. Our graduates are landing six-figure jobs in sectors like delivery, infrastructure, public safety, and defense. However, false narratives about drone sightings risk stalling industry progress.
Already, I’ve verified with local airport managers that frustrated residents have aimed laser pointers at “drones,” posing a major safety threat to manned flights. These actions stem from fear, not facts, and they endanger lives. Additionally, overreaction to these unfounded claims could result in restrictive regulations that stifle innovation and economic opportunity.
A Call for Leadership and Reason
At this point, it’s time for leadership from the FAA and federal agencies. Silence is not an option. The public needs clear, authoritative communication: there is no credible evidence of large drones operating over New Jersey. By remaining quiet, federal agencies allow misinformation to spread unchecked, leaving room for panic and overreaction.
The drone industry has too much to offer—cutting-edge technology, job creation, and life-saving applications—to be derailed by myths. We need facts, not speculation.
What’s Really in the Sky
So what have people seen? Likely airplanes, small drones, or even planets appearing unusually bright. What they haven’t seen are large drones coordinating across the skies. For weeks, I have searched diligently, reviewed evidence, and consulted with industry experts. The answer remains the same: the drones simply aren’t there.
To those concerned: take a breath, look up, and focus on what’s real. For the sake of safety, progress, and innovation, it’s time to put this story to rest.
Dr. Will Austin is the President of Warren County Community College and a recognized national drone expert. WarrenUAS offers cutting-edge drone training programs, preparing students for careers in the UAS industry.
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Read more:
- Understanding the New Jersey Drone Sightings: Separating Fact from Fiction
- FBI and DHS Debunk New Jersey Drone Reports: Misattribution Blamed
- Congressional Hearing Reveals Gaps in Counter-Drone Readiness Amid Concerns About N.Y./N.J. Drone Sightings
Miriam McNabb is the Editor-in-Chief of DRONELIFE and CEO of JobForDrones, a professional drone services marketplace, and a fascinated observer of the emerging drone industry and the regulatory environment for drones. Miriam has penned over 3,000 articles focused on the commercial drone space and is an international speaker and recognized figure in the industry. Miriam has a degree from the University of Chicago and over 20 years of experience in high tech sales and marketing for new technologies.
For drone industry consulting or writing, Email Miriam.
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Very shoddy work by Dr. Austin and his students. Through my bedroom window and on my snack-run to Wawa I count three flight paths with regular drone traffic, They’re delineated routes at roughly 300 feet altitude, medium size craft. All recent, since November and nightly. Drone hobbyists are not piloting 750 flyovers per month (my extrapolation) in the 3 small vectors I accidentally discovered in my small corner of NJ. It’s an insult to our intelligence to dismiss what’s happening as mass technophobia. Meanwhile NJ State and Park police have gone on camera to say drones they approach in-air “go dark” and fly off undetected, to the concern of law enforcement. I’m not having a meltdown about all this, and i hope there’s a simple explanation, but when I read strident denials of the kind Dr. Austin has written I begin to think something unsettling is going on.
What about government agencies reporting drone sightings? Ocean City Sheriff in NJ report seeing 50 drones coming from over the ocean. Also state they didn’t have a heat signature, which was something they never experienced before. https://youtu.be/K98A4CLMwf4?si=sW892Wk3S3mk9sXt
When I was little my dad told me that airplanes in the night sky were gremlins flying around. It was a sweet memory. As far as the drones I have yet to see anything like what the social media hysteria is about. Aliens, ufo’s etc. No….I don’t believe that is what it is or a terrorist attack. I honestly believe people see things that they don’t understand and run with it. I have lived nj my whole life. I grew up in belleville and also lived in Sussex country. Nothing! And I know for sure if I was ever going to see anything the Sussex county sky would be the place.
Stop getting yourself worked up over something a little different. To much jumping to conclusions out there. You ever wonder why it was on social media for so long before it got to the real news?
Definitely not misidentified. I was kind of suspicious as well after seeing grainy nighttime cell phone videos but tonight while in Wayne I witnessed three. I said to my son oh look a drone as the noise is undeniable as it was approaching our direction. As it got closer he said why are they so big. Soon after we saw another flying in perpendicular direction and then another one parallel to first one. You can’t mistake a drone sound for anything else.
Clearly you are not spending any time looking up in the night sky in Middletown, NJ, because if you had, you wouldn’t be taking a position of absolute ignorance!
You claim he’s ignorant, so what is your drone experience, what detection systems are you using, and how, exactly, did you come to the conclusion that an accredited drone expert is ignorant because he’s not at your house?
Eyes is all you have to have. Are you kidding? I’ve seen well over 20 in my area of Clifton/nutley. They fly low enough, hover & move in a grid pattern if you watch long enough and nearly silent. Not a plane, nor are they small. I believe it’s our own military either looking for something or testing. They may never tell us the truth, which isn’t surprising given Biden “is as sharp as ever”! 🤣 this article is liking sanctioned by the current WH
“This phenomenon occurs when people, influenced by trusted voices, begin to report experiences that align with the dominant narrative.”
Please note this only applies to drones and n0t to climate change or any of the other narratives being advanced by mainstream media!
Right? Lol. This is a definite narrative that’s being pushed by “someone”. People might be ignorant to a lot but not blind, deaf & dumb. This needs to be addressed by the Fed Gov and explained. Telling people they’re idiots is not the best way to create “unity”.