A mysterious drone crashed into a residential backyard in New Jersey on Thursday night, adding to growing concerns and unease over unexplained aerial sightings across the Garden State.

Authorities are investigating the incident as residents grapple with questions about the origins and purpose of these devices.

The incident occurred around 8:45 p.m. in Pequannock Township, located in Morris County, according to police reports and dispatch audio. The unmanned aircraft descended suddenly from the night sky,

smashing into a homeowner’s property in a quiet suburban neighborhood. In recent weeks, North Jersey residents have reported a surge in sightings of mysterious drones flying across the region’s night skies.

The Pequannock Police Department informed The New York Post that the craft was identified as “a hobby or toy type of drone” and clarified that it was “not a large commercial or military grade drone.”

Emergency response teams were spotted at a Hillsborough shopping center, as captured by SkyFOX footage. They searched the adjacent underbrush for several hours. A local resident told FOX 5 NY she heard a crash and expressed increasing worry about the unusual occurrences, describing them as “bizarre.” She also reported seeing multiple “drones” flying close to her home, located just blocks from the crash site.

While the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates drone activity, authorities have yet to determine who owns or operates the drones being spotted across the state. Pequannock police have not confirmed if the drone that crashed Thursday night is linked to previous sightings. The sudden influx of unexplained drones has sparked widespread speculation, with theories ranging from recreational use to unauthorized surveillance or industrial testing.