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EWING, NJ (NewsNation) — The FBI says it has no answers to the dozens of drones reported at night across New Jersey in recent weeks.
The agency has been investigating reports of the mysterious nighttime drone flights that began occurring last month across central New Jersey and has asked the public for help. Since then, residents have reported seeing drones in other areas.
Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said during a briefing Wednesday that there is “no evidence that these come from a foreign entity of the work of an adversary.”
She also dismissed a claim by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew that the drones were launched by an Iranian mothership. “No, there is no truth in that,” Singh said.
Speaking at an unrelated signing event in Princeton, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy noted that there were 49 reports of drones Sunday, mostly in Hunterdon County.
New Jersey State Rep. Brian Bergen told NewsNation he is not getting enough information from officials.
“There were no answers,” he said. “Every question that was asked by members of the state legislature? No answers. No resolution. They don’t know where the drones are coming from. They don’t know who’s doing it. They don’t know why they’re doing it. But they say, that there is no credible threat.”
Middletown Mayor Tony Perry said a recently reported sighting over Naval Weapons Station Earle was particularly troubling.
“We had a confirmed drone directly over the top of Earle,” he told NewsNation. “If anyone knows Naval Weapons Station Earle, if you come within 500 feet of Earle, they already have permission to shoot at you when you’re just a fishing boat. Unfortunately, it looks like we’re not going to be able to take action when a foreign, unauthorized drone flies over.”
Drones are legal in New Jersey for recreational and commercial use, but they are subject to local and federal aviation authority regulations and flight restrictions. Drone operators must also be FAA certified. Most, but not all, of the drones seen in New Jersey were larger than those typically used by hobbyists.
The flights initially raised questions in part because they took place near the Picatinny Arsenal, a US military research and production facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.
Most of the drones have been seen along coastal areas, and some of the devices were recently seen over a large reservoir in Clinton.
The FBI is asking residents to share any videos or photos they may have of the flights, along with other relevant information.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
