The FBI is investigating a series of recent mysterious drone sightings over Central New Jersey, not far from President-elect Donald Trump's Bedminster golf course.
The sightings have caused the Federal Aviation Administration to prohibit drone flights over the Trump National Golf Club, NJ.com reported.
The FAA, which said it has received reports of drones as far back as Nov. 18, also is preventing unmanned vehicles from flying over Picatinny Arsenal Military Base in Morris County.
"Witnesses have spotted the cluster of what look to be drones and a possible fixed-wing aircraft," the FBI Newark wrote in a joint statement with N.J. State Police and N.J. Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, the New York Post reported.
The statement said there had been reports of unidentified drones "dating back several weeks."
The FAA issued a flight restriction over Trump's golf course, which is located in Somerset County, on Nov. 22 and it lasts until Friday. The restriction over the military bases runs from Nov. 25 to Dec. 26.
"We look into all reports of unauthorized drone operations and investigate when appropriate," the FAA said, adding that drone operators who endanger aircraft or pedestrians could be fined up to $75,000 and lose their drone operators' pilot certificates.
The FBI confirmed it's investigating the drone flights.
"We are working with several of our law enforcement partners to figure out what's going on," FBI spokeswoman Amy J. Thoreson said, NJ.com reported. "At the moment, we don't have any specifics to share."
New Jersey resident Michael Walsh, who lives near the border of Chester, Mendham, and Randolph, told NJ.com he saw up to eight drones at once.
Mendham resident Christian Kalweit described a drone he saw as the size of a Cessna aircraft.
"All somebody needs to do is see the size ... you're not buying that off of Amazon or some hobby store," Kalweit told NJ.com.
Asked if he believed them to be military-grade, Kalweit said, "Absolutely. Considering their size."
The New Jersey restrictions come amid reports of unauthorized drones flying over three U.S. airbases in England, according to the BBC.
Charlie McCarthy ✉
Charlie McCarthy, a writer/editor at Newsmax, has nearly 40 years of experience covering news, sports, and politics.
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