Connect with us

New Jersey

Drone sightings now reported above South Jersey towns, too. Police are investigating

Published

on

Drone sightings now reported above South Jersey towns, too. Police are investigating


Add several municipalities in South Jersey to the list of places in the state where people claim they have seen drones flying in the sky at night.

Evesham Township, Burlington County, received reports about drone activity on Thursday, and Walt Miller, the town’s police chief, on Friday said there have been similar reports in the neighboring towns of Mount Laurel and Medford – also in Burlington County – and Cherry Hill, Camden County, CBS3 reported.


MORE: Developer buys two ‘Batman’ rides for proposed hotel at Wonderland Pier site in Ocean City


“It is a concern amongst the community,” a public information officer for Evesham Township Police told PhillyVoice on Friday. “It was an ongoing issue yesterday.” 

Advertisement

The police departments in the other municipalities have not addressed reports of drone activity, and they could not immediately be reached for comment Friday. 

New Jersey residents and officials have reported a number of unusual aircraft sightings, but until Thursday they had all been in the skies above counties in North Jersey. The first occurred last month.

The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office reported that police had spotted the aircraft while on patrol in various parts of the county on Nov. 18. Other sightings of drones flying in clusters have since been reported in parts of Somerset, Warren and Sussex counties, NorthJersey.com reported Thursday.

The FBI has been investigating the New Jersey incidents for several weeks, officials said, and Evesham police said in a Facebook post that they are collaborating with state and federal authorities “to identify the drone operators and understand the purpose of this activity.”

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he met Wednesday with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other law enforcement officials to discuss the drone activity.“We are actively monitoring the situation and in close coordination with our federal and law enforcement partners on this matter,” Murphy said.

Advertisement

Officials have not confirmed whether all sightings were drones or another kind of aircraft, and they said there is no known threat to public safety from the aircraft. 

The FBI’s office in Newark, New Jersey, said in a statement on Tuesday it is collecting information on reports from areas along the 70-mile-long Raritan River in North Jersey. 

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

Clusters of suspected drones have been spotted above and near locations including Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility in Morris County, and President-elect Donald Trump’s golf club in Bedminster, Somerset County. The Federal Aviation Administration responded by imposing drone flight restrictions in those areas in recent weeks. 

Witnesses who spoke with news outlets described the drones as being larger than the typical consumer aircraft flown by hobbyists, who are required to obtain a remote pilot certificate and a license from the FAA to fly drones. Videos of the aircraft have circulated on social media in recent weeks. 

Advertisement

The FAA acknowledged the investigation and flight restrictions on Friday, but did not comment on drone sightings in South Jersey. 

“We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate,” FAA spokesperson Cassandra Nolan said in an email Friday. 

Drone pilots who operate their aircraft unsafely face fines of as much as $75,000 and the suspension or revocation of their operators’ certificates, Nolan said.

Advertisement

The presence of the drones has raised questions about the possibility of military involvement, including activity by foreign adversaries.

In February of last year, the U.S. Air Force shot down a Chinese spy balloon off the coast of South Carolina after it had been observed flying in parts of the U.S. The balloon had been connected to an American internet service provider to send and receive communications in China, U.S. intelligence officials later determined.

Former FBI assistant director Chris Swecker, who served under former President George W. Bush, called the drones above New Jersey “perplexing” during an interview on Fox News on Friday.

“I think it’s mainly a counterintelligence issue that needs to be resolved, first and foremost,” Swecker said. “There’s a military arsenal there where a considerable amount of research takes place on small arms and explosives. It’s a very important army facility. We know how aggressive the Chinese have been over the last few years with the balloons, so I’m interested in hearing more about these drones and why they’re not doing something to stop it.”

The FBI’s Newark Office said it is working with New Jersey State Police and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness. State police declined to comment on the investigation and referred questions to the FBI. 

Advertisement

Evesham Police said anyone with information about the drones seen in South Jersey can contact the department’s confidential tip line at 856-983-4699. The FBI directed anyone with information to call the agency at 800-CALL-FBI or submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov. 





Source link

New Jersey

10 hospitalized, including some students, after crash involving school bus in New Jersey

Published

on

10 hospitalized, including some students, after crash involving school bus in New Jersey


MOORESTOWN, N.J. (WPVI) — Ten people, including several students, were hospitalized Tuesday after a school bus crash in Burlington County, New Jersey.

The collision happened around 3 p.m. at Borton Landing and Hartford roads in Moorestown.

Township officials said in a Facebook post that a car and school bus collided at the intersection, injuring six students, the bus driver and three occupants of the passenger vehicle. All injuries appear to be minor, officials said.

“We have been made aware of a bus accident on one of our routes. There are no significant injuries for our students,” Moorestown Township Public Schools said in a statement.

Advertisement

The remaining students on the bus were taken to a nearby school, where they were picked up by family members.

School counselors will be available this week to provide additional support to students.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

New Jersey

Wrong-way driver charged in I-80 crash that injured N.J. State Police trooper

Published

on

Wrong-way driver charged in I-80 crash that injured N.J. State Police trooper


An alleged drunk, wrong-way driver was arrested following a crash on Interstate 80 in Warren County, officials said.

Robert Felegi was driving a pickup truck west in the eastbound lanes in Knowlton when he crashed head-on into a New Jersey State Trooper’s vehicle near milepost 1.4 around midnight Tuesday, State Police said.

The trooper had emergency lights and sirens activated while trying to alert motorists of a hazard ahead, authorities said.

The trooper suffered minor injuries, while Felegi was not hurt.

Advertisement

Felegi, 67, of Middleport, Pennsylvania, was charged with assault by auto and driving under the influence.

He was brought to the Warren County jail ahead of a detention hearing. An attorney for Felegi is not listed in court records.

investigation, and no additional information is available.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

New Jersey

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole

Published

on

NJ casino workers continue push to end smoking loophole


TRENTON, N.J. (WPVI) — New Jersey casino workers, who are pushing to permanently ban smoking in their workplaces, held a rally in Trenton on Monday.

A hearing was held to discuss a lawsuit that aims to close the smoking loophole in the Garden State.

For years, casino workers have been pursuing protections against secondhand smoke in their workplaces.

RELATED | Judge allows smoking to continue in Atlantic City casinos, dealing blow to workers

Advertisement

New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act largely bans indoor smoking, but casinos have a long-standing exemption.

The lawsuit filed last April by the United Auto Workers, which represents dealers at the Bally’s, Caesars and Tropicana casinos.

In August 2024, a judge ruled in favor of the casinos to allow smoking to continue.

“Casino workers are expected to clock in to work every day despite inevitably facing a toxic environment that could cause countless health issues, including cancer, heart disease, and asthma,” said Nancy Erika Smith, the lawyer representing Casino Employees Against Smoking Effects (CEASE) and the UAW on Monday.

“We’re asking the court to find the exemption in New Jersey’s Smoke-Free Air Act unconstitutional and void it immediately. We hope this case will serve as a precedent for casinos across the country to close their smoking loopholes and stop poisoning their workers,” added Smith.

Advertisement

The casinos have warned that thousands of jobs and millions in gambling revenue and taxes could be lost if smoking was banned.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2025 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Trending