For nearly a month, Americans in the northeast have spotted what appear to be drones flying through U.S. airspace with no definitive conclusions from the federal government.
The White House has responded with some information, but one New Jersey lawmaker is demanding the federal government “wake up” and get to the bottom of the “very threatening situation.”
“We need to wake up!” Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said Friday on “Your World.” “To go about a month of doing nothing, and again, this is why I’m so upset with the Pentagon. To just say again, nothing to see here, puts our people at risk.”
DRONE MYSTERY: NEW JERSEY HOMEOWNERS THREATEN TO TAKE MATTERS INTO THEIR OWN HANDS IF GOVERNMENT DOESN’T ACT
“We need to identify, identify, identify and then take appropriate action. We can’t allow this invasion of drones that we have no idea what their intent is other than — the presumption should be they’re not friendly. If they turn out to be friendly, break out the champagne bottle. But that’s not, in my opinion, what’s happening here.”
More than three weeks after dozens of purported drones began appearing in the New Jersey night sky, the public has still been offered no clear insight on what the phenomenon actually is.
The drones were first reported around Nov. 18, and have been spotted every night since, flying from dusk to about 11 p.m. Reports have ranged from four to 180 sightings per night, according to New Jersey Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who relayed a briefing given by law enforcement.
Residents in states like New Jersey, Connecticut and New York, as well as state and federal lawmakers, are demanding answers.
MORE THAN 20 DAYS INTO PHENOMENON, PENTAGON STILL HAS NO ANSWERS ABOUT ORIGINS OF MYSTERIOUS NJ DRONES
White House National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby said Thursday that a number of the purported drone sightings spotted over New Jersey for the past several weeks appear to be piloted aircraft.
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat, or have a foreign nexus,” Kirby told reporters at the White House press briefing. “The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI are investigating these sightings, and they’re working closely with state and local law enforcement to provide resources using numerous detection methods to better understand their origin.”
“Using very sophisticated electronic detection technologies provided by federal authorities, we have not been able to, and neither have state or local law enforcement authorities, corroborate any of the reported visual sightings,” he said. “To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully. The United States Coast Guard is providing support to the state of New Jersey, and has confirmed that there is no evidence of any foreign-based involvement from coastal vessels. And importantly, there are no reported or confirmed drone sightings in any restricted airspace.”
Smith told Fox News anchor Neil Cavuto he was “appalled” by Kirby’s comments.
“I am appalled by yesterday’s statements by Adm. Kirby somehow suggesting that — ‘Nothing to see here.’ There’s a whole lot to see here, Admiral… For the sake of national security, DOD has to be on top of this, and they have not been.”
The New Jersey representative suspected that while some of the sightings could be regular aircrafts, “one of the nation-state terrorists like Russia or Iran or China” is likely behind the drones.
Fox News’ Michael Ruiz, Julia Bonavita, Danielle Wallace, Louis Casiano, David Spunt and Morgan Phillips contributed to this report.
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A person was hospitalized following an emergency response to the Aquarium MBTA Station in Boston overnight.
Crews could be seen gathered outside the station entrance, and Boston EMS says one person was transported.
No additional information was immediately available.
This is a developing news story; stay with 7NEWS on-air and online for the latest details.
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Five baseball and softball teams from the Pittsburgh area brought home hardware from Penn State University earlier this week after winning PIAA state championship titles.
With a 6-5 win vs. Holy Ghost Prep on Thursday, Indiana became just the fifth baseball team from the WPIAL to win back-to-back state championships.
Indiana (22-4) held a 6-3 lead through 5 innings, holding on in bottom of the 7th to win the game and earn gold at Penn State University’s Medlar Field at Lubrano Park.
Brady Oakes got the win on the mound for Indiana, striking out four batters while Charlie Manzi came into the game in a relief role, striking out five and getting the save.
“It was harder this year,” Indiana coach Dan Petroff said to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “We got everybody’s best effort every game and that made it more special. This feels like we ran a marathon and now we’re done. We can breathe a little, I guess.”
Shaler Area made it back to the top of the mountain for high school softball in Pennsylvania, beating Abington Heights on Friday with a mercy rule victory at Penn State’s Nittany Lion Softball Park.
Bria Bosiljevac struck out eight batters on the mound for Shaler (24-1), shutting out Abington Heights while only allowing one hit.
Haley Machajewski ended the game in the 5th inning, hitting a walk-off grand slam to claim gold for Shaler.
“It really was everything. It’s full circle since we started,” Machajewski said. “Our freshman year winning silver, to come back and win gold and walk it off, especially as my last hit — this program has given me so much, and that was a great way to give back to it.”
“I’m so excited for them,” Shaler coach Tom Sorce said to the Post-Gazette. “All year, they wanted to get back here and do the job since we lost in 2023. I’m so happy for them.”
Union Area has gone back-to-back and won its second straight PIAA 1A softball championship.
With a 7-3 win against Holy Cross, Union (22-2) are now repeat champions.
The Scotties, who were playing in the 1A title game for a third straight season, scored early and often, jumping out to a 4-0 lead that they never gave back.
Korynne Shannon had eight strikeouts on the mound for Union, allowing 7 hits in the complete game win.
It was an all-WPIAL state championship game in Class 2A and Laurel came out on top, beating Chartiers-Houston 7-1 to claim the school’s first softball championship.
Laurel (20-6) gave up a run in the opening inning but rallied from there and never looked back, scoring all 7 of their runs between the third and sixth innings.
“When we lost [in the WPIAL semifinals], we could either feel sorry for ourselves or we could go battle,” Laurel coach Bill Garroway said. “This team, the seniors especially, are very resilient. We still had life. Whoever was in front of us, we were going to battle.”
Riley Balcom got the win on the mound for Laurel, striking out five batters and allowing just four hits.
Hempfield has now won the most PIAA softball championships among all teams in the WPIAL.
With a 5-4 win vs. Owen J. Roberts, Hempfield (25-1) are in a class of their own when it comes to state championships among Pittsburgh-area softball teams.
Hempfield rallied from a 3-0 deficit, scoring five runs between the 4th and 5th innings, hanging on for victory after allowing Owen J. Roberts to draw back within one run in the top of the 7th.
“It’s super exciting to bring another PIAA title back to Hempfield,” head coach Tina Skelly-Madison said to the Post-Gazette. “It’s an awesome accomplishment.
Julia Carhola struck out seven batters in the win for Hempfield.
WALLINGFORD, Conn. (WFSB) – Hundreds of athletes are competing in the 12th annual Gauntlet 5K on Wednesday morning.
The race features adaptive obstacle courses on the campus of Gaylord Hospital. Many of the athletes participating received treatment or went through rehab at Gaylord Hospital.
Much of the proceeds raised goes back to the hospital’s adaptive sports program and sports association. The program offers 18 adaptive sports at little to no cost to participants. It is the state’s largest adaptive sports program dedicated to improving the lives of anyone with physical disabilities.
Jess Youngblood, a Gauntlet adaptive athlete, said she is committed to giving it her all on the course.
“I was very active before all of this,” Youngblood said. “So being in the wheelchair is definitely a different experience. But I don’t let it slow me down.”
The first race kicks off at 8 a.m. and races will continue through 2 p.m.
Copyright 2026 WFSB. All rights reserved.
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