Mystery solved? Democratic senator claims mystery drones are actually planes

Sen. Andy Kim (D-NJ) crafted his own response to the mysterious drones that have been flying over states like New York and New Jersey. Almost certainly, the Democrat wrote on social media that the devices are actually aircraft, also challenging the federal government to be more transparent with citizens.

Kim, who was elected last November and has already taken office in the Senate, posted a lengthy thread on his X account about the drone situation. The post quickly went viral and received 7 million views.

"After going out with police to observe reports of possible drones, I was with the help of civilian pilots and others able to do deeper analysis and concluded that most of the possible drone sightings that were pointed out to me were almost certainly planes," he wrote.

Kim defeated Republican Curtis Bashaw in the November election, taking the seat previously held by Bob Menendez, who resigned in August of this year after receiving convictions for 16 corruption cases.

The now Democratic senator also took the opportunity to criticize the federal government for not being transparent enough with the drones.

"Federal experts should provide information and guidance to the public including local police departments like the one that took me out to help them decipher what they are seeing. Instead myself and others requesting are getting no feedback," the senator continued.

Kim also joined a group of colleagues to demand answers.

"Since late November, communities in the New York City area and northern New Jersey have reported several incidents of unattributable nighttime drone sightings, alarming both residents and local law enforcement," the statement signed by Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kim himself reads.

"In addition to the potential privacy concerns posed by these aerial systems, we are also particularly concerned about how they may harm public safety," they continued, also adding that drones have been spotted near "critical infrastructure and sensitive locations."

What did the federal government have to say about drones?

An FBI official told reporters that the agency was working in conjunction with 50 local, state and federal partners to investigate the drone reports.

"We are doing everything we can to find the source of those drone activities, but I think there has been a slight overreaction," the official in question said in remarks picked up by "Voz de America."

"The combination of efforts so far, including technical equipment, hotline information and flagged inquiries, has found no evidence to support large-scale (unmanned aerial systems) activities," he added.