(NewsNation) — The mystery over drone sightings reported in New Jersey and New York continues to grow as the number of sightings reported in the northeastern United States is adding up, including at military bases and airports.
As pressure grows on federal agencies like the FBI to provide answers, drone sightings have caused airspace closures. Places like Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio and Stewart International Airport in New York closed its runway for an hour due to drone activity.
The Department of Defense has confirmed sightings at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, but officials also say they have no evidence the drones are being used maliciously or are being operated by foreign governments. The lack of answers from federal officials has prompted some local law enforcement agencies to take action.
Michael Mastronardy, the sheriff in Ocean County, New Jersey, told NewsNation that one of his deputies called 911 after spotting 50 drones over the ocean, which forced the U.S. Coast Guard to take action.
Mastronardy said the department contacted New Jersey state police, FBI and Coast Guard.
NewsNation has spoken with various drone and aviation experts, who maintain that the objects being seen in New Jersey are airplanes. However, a veteran commercial and military pilot told NewsNation that he believes the objects are in fact drones.