The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed on Tuesday that it had put two flight restrictions in place after seeing suspicious drone activity near President-elect Trump’s golf club in New Jersey.
The FAA first heard about drone activity in Morris County on November 18. The county’s border with Somerset County is about two miles north of Trump National Golf Club Bedminster.
At the request of “federal security partners,” the agency put in place two TFRs or temporary flight limits. This week, there were still reports of drone sightings in Central Jersey.
One rule applies to airspace above Trump Bedminster that is close to Solberg-Hunterdon County Airport. The CCDCAC weapons center at Picatinny Arsenal, a major U.S. Army hub in Dover, New Jersey, which serves for research and development, prohibits flights over it.
The ban will stay in effect for Trump Bedminster until the end of the week, and Picatinny Arsenal will stay banned until December 26.
“Safely integrating drones into the National Airspace System is a key priority for the FAA. We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate,” the agency said in a statement Tuesday, adding drone pilots who endanger aircraft or people can have their certification revoked and/or face $75,000 in fines.
“Local media reported law enforcement has also been probing continued drone activity in the area. Sightings have also occurred a few miles north of Bedminster in Mendham and Parsippany, where I-80 meets I-287. A Parsippany woman told the Morristown Record she saw as many as five drones overhead Sunday night,” Fox News reported.
“An FBI spokeswoman told the outlet the bureau’s Newark field office and New Jersey State Police are investigating. Fox News Digital reached out to Team Trump as well as the U.S. Army’s garrison at Picatinny for comment,” the outlet added.
Morris County Sheriff James Gannon told New Jersey Patch that there is “no advisable immediate danger to the public at this time.” He also asked people to send clear pictures of the drones to the police.
“Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon would like to inform everyone that the recent drone activity observed by many in our communities is being actively investigated. There is no advisable immediate danger to the public at this time,” the Morris County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.
Law enforcement is urging anyone with information about the drones to get in touch.
In a joint statement, several officials from Morris and Somerset counties said they would keep an eye on the drone activity.
“County and local law enforcement agencies are aware of the recurring reports of drone activity around Morris and Somerset counties, and acknowledge the public’s concern about these repeated sightings,” they said.
It’s not clear what kind of drones were seen over British-American sites in the UK before they were seen in New Jersey.
On the English coast, “swarms of small drones” have been seen over RAF Lakenheath, RAF Mildenhall, RAF Fairford, and RAF Feltwell. Fighter jets like the F-15 and F-35 are kept at some of these sites.
A spokesman for the Pentagon said on November 26 that none of the incursions hurt the bases’ buildings, staff, or assets. The British military sent dozens of people to protect the bases.
The punk rock band Green Day saw a drone flying over their show in September. Billie Joe Armstrong, the lead singer, ran backstage as he finished “Longview.”
After about 10 minutes, the show started up again, and Detroit Police said they had arrested a guy.
ABC News reported that local police have said there is no known threat to public safety in the U.S. at this time.
