JENI O’DOWD: We deserve the truth about mysterious drone sightings

What on earth — or beyond it — is happening in New Jersey? Since mid-November last year, reports of mysterious drones and unidentified aerial phenomena have flooded in.

We’re not talking about some kid playing with a remote-controlled toy here. These are SUV-sized drones flying in packs over military bases and critical infrastructure, and no one — not the Federal Aviation Administration, not the FBI, and certainly not the White House — has given the public a straight answer.

For weeks, sightings of these enigmatic drones intensified, spreading from New Jersey to neighbouring states, including New York and Pennsylvania.

The government’s response? White House national security communications adviser John Kirby said the drones were “legal” and “lawful.”

The White House, FBI, and other agencies have reviewed roughly 5000 sightings, concluding these drones are just “hobbyist activity,” “commercial operations,” or “law enforcement aircraft.”

Nothing to see here! We’re supposed to believe thousands of sightings — of SUV-sized drones flying in co-ordinated formations — are just legal hobbyist toys? Give me a break.

Mayor Ryan Herd of Pequannock Township accused the government of withholding information, saying: “The government is actually lying to us.”

It’s like something out of an X-Files episode where the people in charge are hidden in some basement trying to work out what the drones are — and what to tell the people.

Reports of glowing reddish orbs on December 29 deepened the mystery. A traveller recorded the objects en route to JFK Airport, sharing footage that quickly went viral.

On social media, user Djnarkatta described them as “two reddish orbs”.

UFOs? Aliens? Could these be government surveillance programmes? Corporate experiments? Foreign reconnaissance? All of the above have been flatly denied by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, who insist that drones pose no threat to national security.

According to the BBC, New Jersey Republican representative Jeff Van Drew said the drones were coming from an Iranian “mothership” in the Atlantic, while Illinois Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi said there was a “non-trivial” chance that China could be involved.

And then there’s the extraterrestrial elephant in the room. Yes, I’m going there: aliens.

Historically, UFO sightings were confined to loners on deserted highways with grainy photos of blinking lights. Not anymore. Thousands of people have recorded video footage of these drones — credible witnesses with actual evidence.

Even president-elect Donald Trump has weighed in, accusing Joe Biden and the Pentagon of withholding information.

“The government knows what is happening,” he said, even cancelling a trip to his golf club in New Jersey, citing safety concerns after drones were seen flying over it.

I reckon the lack of transparency is the real problem. If these drones are so harmless, why is the government so cagey?

Why not release comprehensive explanations and evidence to back them up? The public is left to speculate because the authorities refuse to provide clarity. And when people are left in the dark, conspiracy theories flourish.

So, what are these drones? The logical explanation is government testing, commercial projects or advanced experimental technology.

The orbs? Perhaps natural phenomena or something experimental we’re not privy to. But if these were routine, harmless activities, the government wouldn’t need to be so cryptic.

Until we get concrete answers, the speculation won’t stop. And it shouldn’t.

This isn’t just about drones over New Jersey; it’s about the public’s right to know what’s happening in their skies.

Whether it’s experimental tech, foreign surveillance, or, yes, even aliens, one thing is clear: the official narrative doesn’t add up.

Nothing to see here, right? Sure. Until the next SUV-sized drone or glowing orb lights up the sky.

Someone out there knows the truth. And as the iconic line from The X-Files famously says, the truth is out there. It’s about time we heard it.