Drew Dixon
As the phenomenon of mysterious drones is sparking bewilderment in New Jersey and surrounding areas, inexplicable drone activity is starting to raise wonderment on Florida’s First Coast.
A drone hobbyist who’s been flying the unmanned aerial vehicles for years in and around Jacksonville said he’s seeing unidentified drones around Jacksonville. Jack Jones told Action News Jax television stations in a report that he’s “concerned” about what he believes are large drones near Naval Air Station Jacksonville, which is on the St. Johns River in the western area of the city.
Then another recording of drones near the naval station surfaced Friday as the aircraft were apparently hovering in the skies.
Jones said he saw and video recorded what he described as “large drones” near the military installation in the past week.
Officials with the naval air station told the news outlet they have no such drones that they are operating in the area and they have no indication that wayward drones are flying near the base.
But even U.S. Rep. John Rutherford, a Jacksonville Republican representing the 5th Congressional District in Florida, said the drone situation has gotten his attention. While he has not offered an explanation of what the objects in the skies might be, he has asked for the public’s help.
“If you see something, say something,” Rutherford said in a statement released to Action News.
The concern over the perceived Jacksonville drones comes on the heels of an outbreak of inexplicable drone sightings in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York.
It’s unclear if the objects are drones or something else, but for sure the nighttime sightings are producing tons of talk, a raft of conspiracy theories and craned necks looking skyward.
Cropping up on local news and social media sites around Thanksgiving, the saga of the drones reported over New Jersey has reached incredible heights.
In the past week drones have seems to begun a new, higher-profile chapter: Lawmakers are demanding (but so far not getting) explanations from federal and state authorities about what’s behind them. Gov. Phil Murphy wrote to President Joe Biden asking for answers. New Jersey’s new senator, Andy Kim, spent Thursday night on a drone hunt in rural northern New Jersey, and posted about it on X.
More drone sightings have been reported in New York City, and Mayor Eric Adams says the city is investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials. And then President-elect Donald Trump posted that he believes the government knows more than it’s saying. “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on his social media site.
But officials with U.S. Homeland Security have said they have no signs of any nefarious activity associated with any of the drone sightings and say their authority is limited from taking action and shooting down the objects.
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.
19 comments
Ron Ogden
December 15, 2024 at 3:20 pm
Did you ever ask yourself why any foreign power would try to spy on us with machines flashing bright lights all over the place? Obviously, they would be dark and quiet, and these aren’t. Most of these sightings are really just commercial or private aircraft being correctly and legally operated. Some of them may be hobbyists, and some of them may be local or federal law enforcement operations–which they would want to keep secret. Everybody should just calm down.
Angelina
December 15, 2024 at 3:57 pm
Nope. Law enforcement wouldn’t be conducting operations over military bases. You’re out of your mind if you think your statement is calming anyone down. It’s beyond the scope of reason. Somebody knows the truth and it should be made public. This game of nobody has answers isn’t going to cut it and we all know that. People just want to know that our elected government is doing their job. Apparently that fact escapes some people and we’re just supposed to accept that nothing is going on when we obviously see it with our own eyes. Come on guys!! Get with it already!
MarvinM
December 15, 2024 at 8:00 pm
You wrote “Apparently that fact escapes some people and we’re just supposed to accept that nothing is going on when we obviously see it with our own eyes.”
So, what did you see with your own eyes?
I would love to know that. Please tell us what you personally saw.
Also would love to know if you are in favor of drone regulation. It’s a pretty new area, and that fact may be the biggest reason why all this is happening. It could just be random drone operators being idiots. But yeah, we need to check it out.
Do you want drone operators to be regulated in any way?
Yes or no.
How would you feel if Musk or Ramaswamy suggested drones should not be regulated?
They might totally do that.
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December 16, 2024 at 1:07 am
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Steve
December 16, 2024 at 9:33 pm
Its not calming you down because you’re irrational. By far the most rational explanation for unidentified aircraft over or around military bases is that they are military aircraft associated with said base. Do you really think the military has no ability to track or neutralize potentially hostile aircraft operating in its restricted airspace?
Ace Rothstein
December 17, 2024 at 4:34 pm
I heard from a friend of my proctologist’s niece’s cousin that these drones were sent here by the nation of Aruba and they are in fact loaded with space lasers than can melt our brains. I don’t want to start a panic, but you better get ready to panic.
Susan Durham
December 15, 2024 at 9:50 pm
Doesn’t anyone track the flight path of planes. Just do it and what is left over, investigate.
Skeptic
December 15, 2024 at 11:18 pm
All in favor of raising taxes to chase after mystery drones, raise your hands. . .
Strange that some have said it ia the government’s responsibility to respond to people’s paranoia — missed that part of the constitution
Steve
December 16, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Yep. Go to flightradar24.com. Lots of tracking data and more being added all the time.
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
December 15, 2024 at 6:33 pm
Good evening America,
MARK MY WORDS:
Day one of the Trump admimidtration the drones are GROUNDED.
Thank you America.
The above words of Sage Wisdom have been brought forward for your edification by THE EARL PITTS AMERICAN FAN CLUB, President Emeritas, EARL PITTS AMERICAN
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
December 15, 2024 at 7:05 pm
….. sorry, America, but us Sage Patriots should stay viligant and not totally Relax Our Sphincters until Trump is in office and Grounds all these Wisenheimer Dook 4 Brains Lefty Drone Ass Clown Pilots.
Remember America, Tight Sphincters, one and all,
EARL PITTS AMERICAN
YewOweMe[FKA RICK WHITTAKER]
December 15, 2024 at 7:12 pm
Thanks for speaking to this “ALL CRITICAL PROBLEM OF NATION WIDE IMPORTANCE” Earl,
YewOweMe[FKA RICK WHITTAKER]
*Earl’s #1 Fan-Boy*
MarvinM
December 15, 2024 at 8:22 pm
Your words Earl:
“Day one of the Trump admimidtration the drones are GROUNDED.”
So, you want them regulated. You want regulations on drones.
Cool. I want regulations on drones too.
Steve
December 16, 2024 at 9:38 pm
In the vast majority of cases the supposed drones aren’t violating any laws. The fact that some of you are frightened by aircraft flying doesn’t cinstutute an actual crime.
My Take
December 15, 2024 at 8:56 pm
Not over the carrier base?
PeterH
December 15, 2024 at 10:24 pm
Drones in USA!
Drones by the Numbers (as of 10/1/24)
791,597
Drones Registered
396,746
Commercial Drones Registered
387,746
Recreational Drones Registered
7,523
Paper Registrations
415,635
Remote Pilots Certified
883,094
TRUST Certificates Issued
At least a few of the drones are flying over Jacksonville!
Harold Finch
December 16, 2024 at 11:31 am
Shoot them down and find out who, what, where, when and why!
Steve
December 16, 2024 at 9:42 pm
Stop being so hysterical. 1. That would be illegal. 2. It would be dangerous to people on the ground. Projectiles that miss or simply pass all the way through the target do not just disappear. They continue at high velocity to the ground.
3. It is neither unusual nor illegal for aircraft to fly. In the case of aircraft flying near or over military bases with impunity thet are almost military aircraft which the base is either operating or well aware of.
Steve
December 16, 2024 at 9:46 pm
The hysteria over aircraft merely flying, which is what they do, is ridiculous. There is zero evidence any laws are being broken and aircraft being operated over or in close proximity to military bases in restricted airspace are almost certainly authorized US military or US government aircraft.
Comments are closed.