Jan. 28 (UPI) — Mystery drones over New Jersey were authorized by the Federal Aviation Administration with the full knowledge of the Biden administration, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced on Tuesday.
“After research and study, the drones that were flying over New Jersey in large numbers were authorized to be flown by the FAA for research and various other reasons,” Leavitt told media during the first White House press briefing during President Donald Trump‘s second term in office.
“Many of these drones were also hobbyists, recreational and private individuals that enjoy flying drones,” Leavitt said. “In time, it got worse due to curiosity.”
She said none of the drone activity was part of some nefarious act by enemies of the United States.
President Donald Trump in December suggested the Biden administration was fully aware of the drones.
“They know where it came from and where it went,” Trump said. “Our military knows and our president knows. And, for some reason, they want to keep people in suspense.”
The announcement during the White House press briefing raised the question of why FAA officials did not acknowledge they authorized many of the drone flights for research purposes and instead stayed silent.
FAA officials said their only concern is that drones are flown legally under 400 feet, don’t violate safe-flying rules and avoid other aircraft or restricted airspace, FAA spokesman Christopher Mullooly told app.com.
The drone sightings generated a great deal of interest and concern across the United States, but federal officials said they weren’t being flown or used in a manner that violated federal law.
The drones did not pose a risk to public safety or national security and weren’t interfering with aviation.
The concern among New Jersey residents and national interest in the matter prompted the FAA to temporarily ban drone flights in some parts of New Jersey.
The concern over the drones also caused many to speculate on their potential origin.
Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., suggested the drones were of Iranian origin, but the Department of Defense said they were not.
While many of the drones were authorized, they forced the New York Stewart International Airport to close its runways for about an hour due to nearby drone activity.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said the drone flights had become excessive and asked the federal government to help.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also sought help from President Joe Biden and several federal lawmakers.
Murphy wanted Congress to enact laws enabling states and local units to use advanced technology to detect and reduce the number of drones being flown in public airspace.
Biden administration National Security Adviser John Kirby suggested Congress should pass legislation to address the growing number of drones flown in U.S. airspace and to close gaps in federal laws and respective state and local laws regarding drones.