Those mysterious drones reportedly flying over New Jersey and surrounding states are probably just planes, the White House says.
"Using very sophisticated electronic detection technologies provided by federal authorities, we have not been able to ... corroborate any of the reported visual sightings," national security spokesman John Kirby said in the briefing room yesterday.
"To the contrary, upon review of available imagery, it appears that many of the reported sightings are actually manned aircraft that are being operated lawfully."
🛸 Catch up quick: Reports of suspicious drone sightings began last month in central New Jersey, then spread to New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Maryland.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) wrote to President Biden to express "growing concern about reports of unmanned aircraft systems" and request more federal resources. (Read the letter.)
Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who sits on the Senate's Homeland Security committee, said the drones should be shot down "if necessary."
✈️ It's not necessary, the White House says.
"We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or a public safety threat or have a foreign nexus," Kirby said.