NJ governor taking unidentified drone flights 'deadly seriously'

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) said that he is taking unidentified drone flights in his state “deadly seriously.”

“These are apparently … as I understand it, very sophisticated,” Murphy told a group of reporters in a clip posted to the social platform X Monday. 

“The minute you get eyes on them, they go dark. And, you know, we’re obviously most concerned about sensitive targets and sensitive, critical infrastructure. We’ve got military assets, we’ve got utility assets, we’ve got the president-elect’s, one of his homes, here. This is something we’re taking deadly seriously,” he added.

Last week, in a post on X, Murphy said he “convened a briefing” featuring Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as well as other important figures in the Department of Homeland Security, New Jersey government “and members of our congressional delegation to discuss reported drone activity over parts of North and Central New Jersey.”

“We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter. There is no known threat to the public at this time,” Murphy added.

In the clip posted to X on Monday, the Garden State governor told reporters that he and other officials “don’t see any concern for public safety.”

“It’s really frustrating that we don’t have more answers as to where they’re coming from and why they’re doing what they’re doing,” Murphy said in the clip. 

The FBI’s field office in Newark, N.J., said last Tuesday that they, alongside New Jersey authorities “are asking for the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River.”

“Witnesses have spotted the cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed wing aircraft. We have reports from the public and law enforcement dating back several weeks,” the field office added in a release.