President Joe Biden is trying to reassure the US over the drone mystery

A mysterious flurry of apparent drone sightings along the US East Coast is “nothing nefarious,” says President Joe Biden.

The observations in recent weeks occurred in New Jersey and several neighboring states, sometimes around air bases. This phenomenon has given rise to a number of conspiracy theories about foreign involvement.

Authorities have not provided many definitive answers, except to say that the sightings are not always related to drones and that they do not believe there is a threat to national security or that a foreign power is at work.

Members of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee, who held a closed-door briefing on Tuesday, joined Biden on Wednesday in trying to reassure the public.

Among the committee members who spoke to reporters afterward was Chrissy Hoolahan, a Democrat.

“To date, they have found nothing to indicate foreign influence, foreign actors, or even little green men working for the American people,” The Hill quoted her as saying.

Another lawmaker, Representative Jim Himes of Connecticut, said there was “no evidence of any law breaking” by drones.

He added that the “vast majority” of sightings are of conventional aircraft or drones being used legally.

Himes said there are “millions” of unregistered drones operating across the U.S., in addition to the 800,000 registered drones that weigh more than half a pound.

In comments to the media, Biden said: “We are watching this closely, but there is no sense of danger at this time.”

He emphasized that surveillance is not proof of any wrongdoing. “A lot of drones are allowed there,” he said. “I think one started it and they all — they all wanted in on the deal.”

In recent days, the surveillance has led to the temporary closure of Stewart International Airport in New York and Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

State authorities previously said they “did not find anything abnormal.” They agreed with Biden that many of the drones that have been spotted were being operated legally by hobbyists and law enforcement — adding that people have also spotted “manned aircraft, helicopters and stars mistakenly labeled as drones.”

But the public’s questions remain. Earlier this week, New Jersey resident Noel Thomas told the BBC about how he spotted a mysterious object in the sky. He said it was the size of a school bus, rectangular with flashing lights, and “exactly something I’ve never seen.”

A police officer in the same state said: “We’re just looking for some reasonable, reasonable responses so that people can live their lives instead of living in this hysteria that we have.”

As the mystery persists, state governments are clamoring for more powers to crack down on small unmanned aircraft spotted in the skies. Earlier this week, New York Gov. Cathy Hochul said officials were sending her a drone detection system.

Among those who have voiced suspicions is President-elect Donald Trump, who said the government “knows what’s going on” but “for some reason doesn’t want to comment.” However, he said he “can’t imagine it’s the enemy.”

The Pentagon previously denied a suggestion by a New Jersey lawmaker that the possible drones came from an Iranian “mother ship,” while an FBI spokesman said there may have been “a bit of an overreaction” to the issue.