A New Jersey congressman has suggested that the mysterious alleged drone sightings in the state are a result of an Iranian “mothership” that is currently off the coast and launching the reported drones. Congressman Jeff Van Drew made the claim on Fox News, citing “high,” “qualified,” and “responsible” sources.
However, the Pentagon has refuted Van Drew’s statement, saying that there is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and no evidence that the reported drone activities are coming from a foreign entity or the work of an adversary. The FBI has also said that it has not yet identified an individual or group responsible for the sightings, and that it is still investigating the matter.
Several members of Congress from New Jersey have suggested that the drones may be coming from off the coast, including Rep. Chris Smith, who said that an officer from the Ocean County Sheriff’s Department saw 50 drones come in off the ocean. However, other officials have suggested that the sightings may be overstated, and that some may be airplanes or counted twice.
The sightings have been reported in several North Jersey counties, and have sparked concerns about the safety of the drones. The state police will soon have new technology with drone-specific radar to assist in the detection of the drones.