A U.S. Coast Guard crew's encounter with an unexplained swarm of drones off the New Jersey coast has sparked controversy between federal officials and maritime personnel.
According to the New York Post, Coast Guard members are pushing back against White House officials who dismissed their accounts of being followed by 12 to 30 drones while patrolling the Atlantic Ocean earlier this month.
The incident occurred during a routine patrol mission specifically aimed at investigating recent drone sightings in the area. Coast Guard crew members reported that the drones appeared suddenly around 9 p.m. and tracked their vessel for approximately 15 minutes, matching their course changes and maintaining a distance of 80 to 100 feet above the water.
White House Dismisses Drone Reports
White House spokesman John Kirby's explanation of the incident has drawn sharp criticism from Coast Guard personnel. Kirby attributed the sightings to a combination of commercial drones, hobbyist aircraft, law enforcement vehicles, and even stars mistaken for drones. His statement suggested that Coast Guard members had likely confused incoming commercial aircraft for unmanned aerial vehicles.
The Coast Guard crew member who witnessed the event, speaking anonymously, strongly refuted Kirby's assessment. He described the drones as sophisticated vehicles with four propellers, measuring approximately seven feet across, displaying festive green, red, and white lights.
Federal officials have maintained that the drones pose no threat to national security despite more than 1,000 drone sightings reported above New Jersey since November 18, with additional sightings in New York's airspace.
Growing Tension Between Officials
A Coast Guard member, who was part of the 12-person crew during the incident, expressed frustration with the federal response, stating:
It's the implication that's insulting. It's implying we're making sh-t up, when the ones making up sh-t are down in Washington, D.C.
The situation has drawn attention from local political figures, with Representatives Chris Smith and Jeff Van Drew, both Republicans from New Jersey, criticizing federal authorities for their lack of clear explanation regarding the drone phenomenon.
The Coast Guard vessel, measuring 47 feet in length, was traveling at approximately 20 knots when the encounter occurred. Crew members noted that the drones eventually climbed higher and moved toward the shoreline before disappearing from view.
Unresolved Questions Remain
The Federal Aviation Administration has responded to the incidents by imposing temporary flight restrictions over parts of New Jersey and New York. Despite these measures, questions persist about the nature and origin of the drone activities.
The anonymous Coast Guard member emphasized that the drones observed were not commercial models available to the public, suggesting they were government-operated vehicles. While the crew's orders were to observe rather than engage with the drones, they were prepared to respond if threatened.
The situation continues to develop as federal officials maintain their stance on the drone sightings, creating a rift between Washington leadership and front-line Coast Guard personnel who insist on the validity of their observations.
Disputed Maritime Encounter Highlights Security Concerns
The incident involving Coast Guard members and an unexplained drone swarm off the New Jersey coast has exposed tensions between maritime personnel and federal leadership. The 47-foot Coast Guard vessel encountered what crew members described as 12 to 30 sophisticated drones during a routine patrol.
This led to conflicting accounts between those who witnessed the event and White House officials who dismissed their observations. As drone sightings continue to accumulate in the Northeast region, the controversy underscores growing concerns about aerial surveillance and national security protocols in American coastal waters.
