Mysterious drone clusters witnessed across Philadelphia region as FBI continues investigation

Monday, December 9, 2024 7:50PM ET
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- People from all across the Delaware Valley and up into northern New Jersey have reported seeing clusters of drones in the sky over the past several weeks.

Numerous reports were sent to Action News about flying objects in Media and Broomall in Delaware County, as well as in Philadelphia's Mayfair section and in Cherry Hill, Camden County.

We've been asking local and federal officials if they can offer an explanation. Simply put, so far, the answer is no.

We spoke with Maureen Rush who is a 45-year law enforcement veteran and president of the Philadelphia Police Foundation. She says it's important to note that many of the sightings include commercial-grade drones, some as large as small airplanes, not the kinds used by hobbyists.

"My other concern is that there are multiple drone sightings. They're almost in a flock. If they were geese, they'd be in a flock, and that's what's really unnerving for people," she said.



Over in New Jersey, Governor Phil Murphy has publicly stated that this drone activity does not pose a public safety concern, but he has offered little else regarding an explanation.

And State Senator Doug Steinhardt says that's simply not good enough.

"I'd be happy with an explanation that we've looked at it, and we don't have information, or for law enforcement to say it's an ongoing something or other, you know, and that's as much as we can tell you, but we're not even getting that which is unfortunate," said Steinhardt.

And Steinhardt says he's not just speaking as a lawmaker, he's speaking as a witness.

"I walked out of my front porch last night and saw it would look like drone activity to me. I mean, I've seen airplanes cross the sky before and this wasn't that," he says.



Steinhardt has since sent letters to fellow lawmakers, including Governor Murphy, requesting they convene a bipartisan panel to discuss the situation.

The FBI is involved in the investigation.

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