A mysterious drone crashed into a residential backyard in New Jersey on Thursday night, adding to growing concerns and unease over unexplained aerial sightings across the Garden State. Authorities are investigating the incident as residents grapple with questions about the origins and purpose of these devices.

The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. in Pequannock Township, located in Morris County, according to police reports and dispatch audio. The unmanned aircraft descended suddenly from the night sky, smashing into a homeowner’s property in a quiet suburban neighborhood. In recent weeks, North Jersey residents have reported a surge in sightings of mysterious drones flying across the region’s night skies.

The Pequannock Police Department informed The New York Post that the craft was identified as “a hobby or toy type of drone” and clarified that it was “not a large commercial or military grade drone.”

Emergency response teams were spotted at a Hillsborough shopping center, as captured by SkyFOX footage. They searched the adjacent underbrush for several hours. A local resident told FOX 5 NY she heard a crash and expressed increasing worry about the unusual occurrences, describing them as “bizarre.” She also reported seeing multiple “drones” flying close to her home, located just blocks from the crash site.

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While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates drone activity, authorities have yet to determine who owns or operates the drones being spotted across the state. Pequannock police have not confirmed if the drone that crashed Thursday night is linked to previous sightings. The sudden influx of unexplained drones has sparked widespread speculation, with theories ranging from recreational use to unauthorized surveillance or industrial testing.

Residents of this densely populated region, which is close to New York City, have expressed frustration and a desire for answers. FAA regulations prohibit drones from flying at night without proper authorization, operating over private property, or beyond the pilot’s visual line of sight. Violations can lead to fines or legal action, though enforcement remains difficult without identifying the operators.

Officials at a Navy weapons station in New Jersey also reported “multiple” drone intrusions into their airspace, heightening concerns amid numerous drone sightings across the region. Naval Weapons Station Earle acknowledged being “aware” of these occurrences and emphasized their ongoing collaboration with federal and state agencies “to ensure the safety of our personnel and operations.”

Bill Addison, the public affairs officer at Naval Weapons Station Earle, told ABC News, “While no direct threats to the installation have been identified, we can confirm multiple instances of unidentified drones entering the airspace above Naval Weapons Station Earle.” He added that the base is ready to handle any possible threats, stating, “The base remains prepared to respond to any potential risks, leveraging robust security measures and advanced detection capabilities.”

In an intelligence bulletin obtained by ABC News on Friday, the New Jersey Division of Fire Safety issued a warning, advising that downed or landed drones “should not be approached.”

Last night, beginning at around 9:45 pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital). I observed the activity for approximately 45 minutes.

Like… pic.twitter.com/Ipx8ctLmhs

— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) December 13, 2024

In recent months, there has been a surge in reports of unidentified flying objects (UFOs) and unexplained aerial phenomena across the United States. On December 7, pilots in Oregon spotted mysterious, fast-moving lights, with reports of similar unusual sightings involving large drones in New Jersey since November. These incidents have led to increased safety measures and calls for a temporary drone ban in New Jersey. The Pentagon’s All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office has investigated these phenomena, finding most to be explainable, though some remain mysterious without any signs of extraterrestrial activity.