Mysterious Drones Spotted In MD Amid Increased Sightings In NJ

BOWIE, MD — As sightings of mysterious drones continue to spark concern in other parts of the country, several were recently spotted and captured on video in Maryland, according to a report.

In New Jersey, residents of a growing number of towns and cities have been spotting the unidentified flying machines at night since about mid-November, reporting that drones sometimes travel in clusters and can look as large as cars.

Officials in at least 13 New Jersey counties have received reports of the drones from residents or witnessed the flights themselves.

Recently, NBC Washington reported that several were spotted in the skies over Bowie.

“We see at least three to five different drones in the sky,” Autumn Stasulli told NBC after capturing videos of drones outside her home. “I was shocked. My mouth dropped.”

Stasulli said she spotted the drones as she and her sister talked about another pair of sightings in New Jersey.

“It was very unsettling afterwards because I’m like ‘Oh my goodness. It’s happening here in Bowie, Maryland,’” Stasulli told NBC Washington. “Why Bowie? Bowie is such a quiet, quiet town."

In New Jersey, state Homeland Security officials and New Jersey State Police met with mayors, legislators, and Gov. Phil Murphy's staff on Wednesday to discuss the widely reported sightings in the Garden State. The Federal Bureau of Investigation began its own probe into the drone sightings on Nov. 26.

This push for answers is also taking place on Capitol Hill, where FBI Assistant Director of the Critical Incident Response Group Robert Wheeler fielded questions about the drones during a House Homeland Security Committee meeting.

"You're telling me we don't know what the hell these drones in New Jersey are?" asked Rep. Tony Gonzales, a Republican from Texas, on Tuesday.

"That's right," Wheeler responded.

Wheeler said federal officials have received more than 3,000 tips from the public since the FBI began its investigation on Nov. 26, and several credible reports from law enforcement.

"Some are described as being slightly larger than a commercially available drone; fixed-wing as well as rotary," he said.

Wheeler said the FBI, along with state and local partners, have been actively investigating the unexplained flights and are still trying to determine who is responsible.

"We do not attribute that to an individual or a group yet," Wheeler said.

"It is concerning," Wheeler continued, adding that officials have no knowledge that the drones are a danger to the public.

"We just don't know. And that's the concerning part," he said.