In recent weeks, news and social media have been buzzing over the mystery drones that have been recorded flying over New Jersey and the East Coast, raising questions about who launched them and why.

Fox News reports that among the number of sightings are videos of drones above residential neighborhoods, restricted sites, and essential infrastructure.

While officials have advised calm and stressed there is no security threat, the sightings have put immense pressure on government agencies to reveal more information about the aircraft.

On Friday night, Stewart International Airport in New York closed its runways for an hour due to drone activity.

A Possible Answer

Residents of New Jersey and the East Coast are bewildered and agitated by the lack of explanation provided by officials regarding drone sightings.

In the midst of this, Laura Ballman, a former CIA Operations Officer, commented on the unusual sightings, positing that they may be a component of a classified government exercise.

Ex CIA officer's reaction

Laura Ballman called the drone activities "extremely unsettling" and underlined that National Security spokesman John Kirby's claims that the drones are not operating illegally signal a US-government operation.

"Deducing the statements from [National Security spokesman] John Kirby that these drones are not operating illegally, coupled with several op-eds that have been out there in the last 24 hours about the need to look at our detection systems, makes me think perhaps this is actually a classified exercise to test either evasion technology or detection technology in urban areas," Ballman was said according to Fox.

Laura said she would be "shocked" if the CIA was engaged and criticized the US government's lack of transparency.

She found it "troubling" that the public is unaware of the reasons for these drone sightings.

About The Mysterious Sightings

According to AP, drones have been spotted in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Virginia. The FAA reported sightings near Morris County, New Jersey, on November 18.

Military officials and state politicians said drones were seen near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research center, and over President-elect Donald Trump's Bedminster golf property, raising concerns. The FAA temporarily restricted flights over the homes after observations.

Local officials were informed privately by federal drone investigators. Mayor Mike Ghassali of Montvale, New Jersey, said the drones occasionally fly in a synchronized pattern and can stay in flight for six hours.

Trump himself has been clear that he thinks there is more to the story than what officials are saying: “Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!” he posted on his social media site. Experts, however, warn not to shoot at anything in the sky.