Mysterious Large Drones Spotted Over Southern California After New Jersey Wave

A new wave of mysterious drone sightings has alarmed residents across Southern California, just weeks after similar incidents in New Jersey. Witnesses in San Diego County, Temecula, and other areas describe objects resembling small cars hovering silently in the night skies, raising questions about their origins and purpose, reports CBS 8.

Witnesses Report Silent, Car-Sized Drones

The first reports emerged on November 22, 2024, when Colin Rambo, a resident of Lemon Grove and professional archaeologist, captured footage of glowing red lights moving unusually in the sky.

“There is a bunch of red lights floating in the sky,” Rambo said, describing the scene in his cell phone video. He explained, “I saw at least twenty-five of them over a five-minute period.”

Rambo initially speculated they could have been paper lanterns but remained uncertain.

Unexplained Movements Over Temecula

Three nights ago, residents of Temecula also observed large drones hovering silently. Music artist and producer @itsnomadmusic shared his experience, noting that the drones were silent and displayed irregular flight behavior:

“They’ll be going just straight one direction, and then all of a sudden they’ll just zig or zag and keep going, or turn around, and just break really quick.”

According to witnesses, the drones were large, about the size of a small car. Unlike traditional aircraft or helicopters, they emitted no noise and seemed to move with precision.

Military and Law Enforcement Deny Involvement

CBS 8 reached out to local authorities and the military for explanations. The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the drones in Temecula did not belong to law enforcement. Camp Pendleton officials also denied involvement, stating:

“The command is aware of recent drone activity in the surrounding communities. No military unmanned aerial systems (UAS) training or activity has occurred during the time or place in question,” said Staff Sgt. Kathryn Lynch.

Broader Trend of Drone Incursions

These sightings mirror a pattern of mysterious drone incursions seen worldwide over the past 12 months, raising security concerns and sparking investigations. Here’s a timeline of recent incidents:

• New Jersey, USA (November–December 2024): SUV-sized drones were spotted near military installations, prompting an FBI investigation. Read more
• Virginia, USA (December 2023): Drone swarms appeared over Langley Air Force Base, raising airspace security concerns. Read more
• United Kingdom (November 2024): Unauthorized drones flew over U.S. military airbases, including RAF Lakenheath and Mildenhall. Read more
• Stockholm, Sweden (November 2024): A drone dropped paint on the Russian Embassy, escalating diplomatic tensions. Read more
• Waikiki, Hawaii, USA (August 2024): A classified Underwater drone linked to DARPA was discovered off the coast. Read more
• Ramstein, Germany (December 2024): Unidentified drones were spotted over the U.S. Air Force base at Ramstein and sensitive industrial sites. Read more

Growing Concerns and Unanswered Questions

The increasing frequency and size of these drones point to evolving challenges for law enforcement and military authorities. Their silence, maneuverability, and presence near sensitive areas suggest advanced capabilities not typical of consumer drones.

For residents like Colin Rambo, the incidents underscore the importance of vigilance. “With everything that’s going on in the news, just please look up at night,” Rambo urged.

As investigations continue, the source and purpose of these drones remain unclear, leaving communities across the country demanding answers.

Please keep in mind that often manned aircraft, balloons, birds, plastic bags are misidentified as drones.

Additional Context: DroneXL Coverage of Global Drone Incidents