Department of defense dismisses ocean county sheriff's claim of drones trailing u. S. Coast guard vessel

TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Department of Defense Secretary Josh Kirbyb is pushing back against recent claims of unusual drone activity off the New Jersey coast, saying that sightings are largely misidentified air traffic or legal drone operations.

Kirby told Fox News on Tuesday that the FBI confirmed reports of multiple drones trailing a U.S. Coast Guard vessel were actually “regular oceanic air traffic” headed to New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports.

The statement comes after Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy claimed that one of his officers documented as many as 50 drones originating from the ocean.

New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew added to the speculation by suggesting the drones could be linked to a “mothership” operated by Iran off the coast. However, Kirby dismissed that theory, stating that a government search did not confirm such activity. Kirby said the drones are not being operated by a foreign government, noting they are using FAA approved lighting during their flights.

“Most of the drone traffic people in New Jersey are seeing are legal drone operations, planes, stars, and planets,” Kirby said, attempting to ease public concerns.

The comments follow remarks made Monday by former President Donald Trump, who said, “the government knows what’s going on here.” Kirby agreed, reiterating that authorities are aware of the situation and emphasizing there is no perceived threat.

The clarification aims to quell growing speculation over drone sightings, which have sparked concern and theories about their origin.

Shore News Network Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.