Drone Panic and the Crisis of Reality

In recent weeks, the skies over the United States, particularly in New Jersey and several other northeastern states, have been lit up by an unusual phenomenon: mysterious drones. These sightings have captured the public’s attention and spawned a wide range of explanations—showing the loss of trust in authoritative institutions and narratives.

The sightings began Nov. 18 near Morris County, New Jersey. Since then, the mysterious aircraft have been reported in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, and Texas. The sightings have several elements in common. The alleged drones are often seen flying in formations, sometimes appearing to be as large as cars. More significantly, most of the sightings have occurred over or near military bases. 

This isn’t entirely unprecedented. In late 2019 and early 2020, for example, drones of unknown origin were seen flying in a grid-like pattern over nuclear-missile silos in Colorado and Nebraska, often at night. Over the past year, however, the sightings have intensified. Last December, as reported by The Wall Street Journal, a fleet of unidentified drones flew over critical military sites across the Chesapeake Bay for 17 days in a row.