In recent days, many residents of New Jersey claim to see unidentified objects flying in the sky of the state.

Most people talk about drones and call the police to report the incident. In fact, several of them made posts on social media, where fellow citizens replied that they also saw the strange objects in the sky.

A former analyst of hers C.I.A offered her own theory behind the “extremely alarming” number of drones that continue to flood Northeast skies, even as federal officials attempt to reassure the public, calling any concerns “overblown.”

In particular, as broadcast in New York PostLaura Ballman pushed the federal government to be more transparent about the mysterious drone sightings, believing the disturbing phenomena may be part of a “classified exercise” carried out by the Biden administration, as she said during an interview on Fox News Live on Saturday.

“Now as to who is behind this, considering the statements made by John Kirby, who said that these items do not operate illegally, it makes me think that this is actually a ‘top secret’ exercise, with to test either the evasion technology or the detection technology in urban areas,” Ballman said.

Who is operating the alleged drones and why?

According to a DHS flyer, “it is unclear who is operating the drones, but the State of New Jersey and its agencies are not involved in the operation of these reported drones.” The statement notes that the identification of the operators is “an aspect of the ongoing federal investigation.”

Similarly, DHS said there are still no “specific details about the drones,” such as their manufacturer or model, and that while “drones are generally required to have tracking capabilities … not all drones are compliant, and investigations are ongoing into tracking the operators’.

Are portable drones dangerous?

“At this time, according to the FBI, there are no known specific or credible threats associated with these sightings,” the DHS flyer states.

During a press briefing Thursday, White House National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby reiterated the DHS statement and said “there is no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety.” He added that “after reviewing the available images, it appears that many of the reported sightings are in fact manned aircraft operating legally.”

Could the drone sightings be something else?
It is possible that some people confuse general aviation, commercial or military aircraft with drones. “Drone activity can sometimes be mistaken for aviation aircraft such as airplanes or smaller helicopters due to many overlapping characteristics,” according to DHS, including “advanced capabilities that allow them to mimic the flight patterns of helicopters or small planes , such as swinging or rapid changes of direction’.

During his briefing Thursday, Kirby also said that federal and state and local law enforcement authorities “were unable to … confirm any of the reported sightings. Instead, after reviewing the available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft operating legally.”

New Jersey Mayor Sam Morris called Kirby’s claim “ridiculous,” telling ABC News it was “really offensive to all the people here who live this.”

“Come out, Mr. Kirby. And let’s go out one night at 9:30, 10:00,” Morris said. “I will come out behind my town hall. And you can count with me all night.”

Can someone shoot down, capture or disable a drone?

Drones generally cannot be shot down or captured, for both legal and security reasons, according to DHS: “Downing a drone can pose safety risks to people and property on the ground. Debris from a downed drone can cause injury or damage, particularly in residential areas.”

Additionally, drones’ small size and maneuverability make them difficult targets, even if there is reason to shoot them down. And while “non-mobile methods such as jamming or hacking can be used” to disable drones, they “require sophisticated technology and expertise,” DHS says.

“It’s also not a good idea to take them down yourself. Doing so in New Jersey, for example, is illegal and violates federal law, as drones are regulated by the FAA.” According to DHS, any person who shoots down a drone can be fined up to $250,000 and sentenced to up to 20 years in prison.

States and local governments also have little or no legal say over drone activity, as drones are regulated by the FAA.