After weeks of unexplained drone sightings, New Jersey lawmakers are meeting with federal officials

CNN
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Homeland Security and FBI officials met with New Jersey state lawmakers Wednesday as part of an ongoing federal investigation into weeks of unexplained drone sightings across the state that have raised heightened security concerns among local residents, military personnel and state officials.

Although drones are legal in New Jersey, the planes’ mysterious origins — and their occasional proximity to military installations — have led to calls for answers from state lawmakers and spawned numerous theories from residents and officials alike.

The Pentagon on Wednesday dismissed speculation that the drones could have come from a foreign entity or an adversary. The denial came hours after U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, a Republican from New Jersey, told Fox News that the drones came from “a mother ship” from Iran that was “off the east coast of the United States of America.” lies.

“There is no truth to that,” Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said Wednesday. “There is no Iranian ship off the coast of the United States and there is no so-called mother ship launching drones toward the United States.”

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, the sightings began on November 18 near Morris County, New Jersey.

Drones have been spotted near Picatinny Arsenal, a U.S. military research facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster, according to military officials and state lawmakers. The sightings prompted the FAA to issue temporary flight restrictions for the properties.

State Assembly member Dawn Fantasia said on

“At this point, I believe military intervention is the only way forward,” Fantasia said.

According to Singh, local law enforcement has the authority to shoot down the drones if they wish. She added that U.S. military installations always have the right to self-defense, but that the drones have not yet posed a threat.

CNN has reached out to the FBI, Department of Homeland Security and New Jersey State Police for more information.

This is a developing story and will be updated.