Large drones are hovering in formation over northern New Jersey, officials said Monday, leading “jittery” residents to wonder what’s behind the bright, unidentified flying objects that appear in the sky almost every night.
The FBI and the Morris County Sheriff’s Department are actively investigating the aerial phenomenon, which is a nuisance but has not yet posed any threat to safety, authorities said.
“There is no immediate danger to the public at this time,” Morris County Sheriff James Gannon said in a statement, “and the Sheriff’s Office is working with many law enforcement agencies on this matter.”
Morris County resident Julie Shavalier said the mysterious nighttime shows kept her awake.
“We’re all completely nervous,” Shavalier told NBC News on Tuesday. “I didn’t sleep last night.”
Shavalier said she fears more sleepless nights will follow.
“I would get up at 2am or 4am and look out my window and they would still be floating,” she added. “I got up at 5:30 this morning and they were still there when the sun came up. They headed back the same direction they came from, and I expect them to be back as soon as the sun sets tonight.”
The drones appeared in mid-November and have returned every night, NBC New York reported.
“We see them every night except Thanksgiving. I think they took the night off,” local resident Mike Walsh told the newspaper on Monday.
As this mystery unfolds in the skies, it draws the attention of FBI agents who also have an interest in protecting federal officials.
Morris County is located just north of Somerset County, home to the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, a frequent overnight stop for President-elect Donald Trump.
“We are working with our state and local partners on the reported drone activity,” an FBI representative said.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
