Mystery “drones” have been seen in the skies over New Jersey in recent weeks, and now the sightings have apparently reached the Lehigh Valley and eastern Pennsylvania.
On Thursday evening, social media was abuzz with reports of lights in the sky, from the Easton area to the Slate Belt and beyond.
Numerous sightings were also reported just to the north in the Poconos. The Monroe County Office of Emergency Management in a Facebook post around 9 p.m. said it was aware of the social media reports throughout the county.
“Please report any drone sightings in Monroe County, PA, by calling 911,” the post read. “Report the size, shape and color or any lights visible on the drones and the location of the drone sightings.”
The agency said anyone reporting the sightings could request to share live video footage with dispatchers.
“By reporting this to 911, we are able to pass your report on to the proper authorities,” the agency said.
Multiple reports of the sightings were also being called into authorities in Lehigh and Northampton counties, according to emergency radio dispatches.
Many of the sightings in the Lehigh Valley were being reported over the Slate Belt region, with several dozen people in the Slate Belt Chatter Facebook group saying they saw the unidentified objects.
Additional sightings were reported on the Easton, PA Post and Complainers of Hellertown Facebook pages from those respective regions. A post on The Morning Call Facebook page also generated additional reports.
Nick James, in a comment on the Facebook post, said he saw two drones Thursday evening in the Lower Macungie area, including one he drove under near Route 100 and Spring Creek Road.
“It looked large and was about 200 feet up,” James said. “It looked much larger than the typical hobbyists’ drone. It hovered in that area for at least two hours.”
Philip Mantagas said he observed multiple orange and redish colored lights flying and hovering at different speeds over the Whitehall area. He also said a loud helicopter with green and red lights was traveling in their direction.
“Not everything I saw in the sky moved like a drone to me,” Mantagas said. “Some where flashing white fast moving lights that could change direction very fast.”
Lois Galimi reported seeing a similar object in the Bethlehem area.
“Too small and fast to be an airplane,” Galimi said. “Was able to turn pretty quickly. Had flashing red and green lights. High up in the sky.”
As residents shared videos and photos of what they saw Thursday night, others offered a simpler explanation for some of the sightings: they were simply airplanes visible on a clear night across the region.
Thursday night also happened to be the peak of the Geminid meteor shower, according to Accuweather.
“The meteors will be visible throughout the entire night sky with the first shooting stars appearing not long after nightfall,” Accuweather reported.
Clear conditions across the region made for ideal viewing conditions, although Accuweather warned a nearly full moon meant stargazers would need to look “in darker areas where the moon is out of sight.”
The reported drone sightings have been plaguing New Jersey since mid-November, when they were first spotted near Morris County along the Raritan River. Since then the sightings have spread statewide, including over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster and near Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research and manufacturing facility.
Other sightings have been reported across the Philadelphia region over the last few weeks.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?
Originally Published: