New Jersey Drone Hysteria

https://www.njspotlightnews.org/2025/01/experts-analyze-nj-drone-fever-underlying-anxieties-provoked-by-social-media/

This is an interesting analysis of the drone hysteria here in New Jersey. While much of it has subsided, there are still some pockets left.

Yesterday, the initial wave of TFRs established by the FAA in December expired. The remaining ones, except Bedminster and Picatinny, will expire soon.

These TFRs were, however, nothing more than security theater designed to placate the public while offering uninformed officials across the state, with little knowledge of aviation, airspace, or national security, and reluctant to believe experts a way out while showing they “did something.” If some of the drone sightings were inexplicable, operating illegally or with hostile intent, they would have done nothing to mitigate the threat.

While there may be something to a few of these sightings related to government activity, this whole situation exposed incompetence, and maybe even character flaws, in local and state officials across New Jersey that taxpayers and voters should be concerned about.

At this point, I’ve looked at over 1,000 photos and videos sent to me or posted on social media. I have not seen anything besides manned aircraft, planets, stars, and one small drone operating legally.

Rather than listen to and facilitate discussions with experts who could have helped calm the public’s fears, many elected officials couldn’t get in front of TV cameras or post to social media fast enough, unnecessarily aggravating the situation and creating a holiday season we won’t soon forget. This is not leadership.