BELLEVILLE, NJ — Michael Melham remains a skeptic.
These were the Belleville mayor’s thoughts on Wednesday after federal authorities threw water on a rumored connection between the mysterious drones appearing in New Jersey and a search for “missing” radioactive material.
Some of the rumor can be traced back to a Dec. 12 report from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which stated that a piece of medical equipment used for cancer scans was “lost in transit” on Dec. 2 after it was shipped from the Nazha Cancer Center in Newfield for disposal, arriving at Port Newark “damaged and empty.”
Melham referenced this report in an interview with Fox 5 New York on Tuesday.
“There is an alert that’s out right now that radioactive material in New Jersey has gone missing on Dec. 2,” he said. “This is just an example of what I think that we’re sniffing for.”
Melham – who had attended an all-mayors briefing at the state police headquarters a week prior to making his comments on Fox News – wasn’t the only local official to question if there was a potential link. On Monday, a group of Staten Island elected officials penned a letter to the Department of Homeland Security, asking if there is any connection between the unidentified drones and radioactive materials.
The answer is no, state and federal officials say.
The material in question contains trace amounts of Germanium-68, a radioactive isotope used in CAT scan machines. The device poses little threat to the public, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection told NJ Advance Media.
A doctor at the Nazha Cancer Center told ABC News that the missing material has since been found and has been disposed of properly. While there were still trace amounts of radiation, it was so low that they only needed to wrap in a few layers of Styrofoam to make it safe to transport, he said.
To further disprove the theory, the National Nuclear Security Administration said it does not use drones for nuclear detection missions.
Despite these assurances, Melham told Patch that he remains leery of the “official” line about drones in New Jersey.
“Forgive my skepticism, but recent developments leave me, my colleagues and most importantly, the residents of New Jersey unsettled,” he said.
“Just last week, every mayor in New Jersey, along with members of our state Legislature, was summoned to an unprecedented security briefing at the state police headquarters,” Melham continued. “We were informed of drones hovering over our critical infrastructure, yet we left with more questions than answers.”
“Only two days ago, during a call with the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs, we were assured that the sightings were misidentified manned aircraft and that there was ‘nothing to see here,’” Melham said. “However, less than 24 hours after our briefing, the House Intelligence Committee hastily convened a classified meeting concerning drones.”
That meeting lasted nearly three hours, he added.
Since then, the discrepancies in communication continues to be concerning, Melham told Patch.
“Within the span of a day, we’ve heard conflicting statements from high-ranking government officials,” he said. “Members of the Intelligence Committee echoed the administration’s line, claiming there appears to be no ‘nefarious activity’ and that these are not federal operations.”
“Contrarily, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul believes some of these drones are Chinese spy drones,” Melham continued. “Adding to the confusion, Congressman Jeff Van Drew last week mentioned a missing Iranian drone ship, linking its disappearance to the timing of these drone sightings.”
“I’m hoping you can understand why I remain highly skeptical of the official explanations provided thus far,” he said.
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DRONES IN THE SKY – OR SOMETHING ELSE?
Since first appearing nearly a month ago, nightly drone sightings have been reported across the state. Most of the sightings have been happening from dusk to dawn. Federal investigators say they haven’t been able to figure out where the drones are coming from, but have claimed they aren’t a threat.
Their explanations haven’t held much weight with increasingly frustrated residents and local officials, who are demanding more transparency from federal agencies such as U.S. Homeland Security and the FBI.
One of the more extreme theories about the origin of the drones was Rep. Van Drew’s suggestion that the devices may coming from an off-shore Iranian “mothership” – a claim that the congressman has since taken back. Read More: NJ Rep Walks Back Iranian Drone ‘Mothership’ Theory
Federal authorities have acknowledged that some of the drone sightings are real – although they’re likely just local hobbyists or drone enthusiasts legally taking their devices for a spin. Federal Aviation Administration regulations changed in 2023, allowing people to fly them at night – which may be contributing to the rise in sightings.
But for every “genuine” drone sighting there may be lots of cases of mistaken identity, officials say.
Some have suggested that many of the bright lights are just planes taking off from nearby airports. See Related: Drone Or Plane? Newark Airport In ‘Close Proximity’ To NJ Sightings
Other local residents may have confused the activity they saw at Essex County Airport in Fairfield with drones, but the hubbub was only filming – which Netflix had permission for, an official said. Read More: ‘Activity’ At Essex County Airport Is Filming, Not Drones
Yet more sightings across the state, such as reports of a drone crashing into the Atlantic Ocean along the beach in Point Pleasant Beach, have been unable to be confirmed, authorities say. See Related: ‘Drone Crash’ Investigated In Point Pleasant Beach
The FBI said it has received tips of more than 5,000 reported drone sightings in the last few weeks. Their analysis so far?
“Having closely examined the technical data and tips from concerned citizens, we assess that the sightings to date include a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and stars mistakenly reported as drones. We have not identified anything anomalous and do not assess the activity to date to present a national security or public safety risk over the civilian airspace in New Jersey or other states in the northeast.”
Meanwhile – like Melham – some Essex County residents and internet pundits continue to dispute the explanations from authorities, insisting that something weird is happening in New Jersey.
The FBI Newark, New Jersey State Police and New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness are asking the public to report any information related to drone sightings to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI. People can also submit tips online at tips.fbi.gov.
ELECTED OFFICIALS SPEAK
Several federal and state lawmakers who represent the Essex County region have been weighing in on the controversy.
Another elected official from the area, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), has said that “New Jerseyans’ patience is getting very thin, including my own.”
According to Sherrill – a former U.S. Navy helicopter pilot and member of the House Armed Services Committee – after weeks of sightings over New Jersey, two things have become clear.
“One, the drones remain unidentified,” she said. “And, two, the people of New Jersey need clearer, more consistent communication as to what our government is learning and doing about the drones.”
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, a Newark resident, has also been pressing the FBI and the U.S. departments of Homeland Security and transportation for more information.
“I recognize the need to maintain operational security of ongoing investigations and that this situation requires complex interagency coordination,” Booker wrote in a recent letter to the two agencies. “However, there is a growing sense of uncertainty and urgency across the state—from constituents and local officials alike—despite assurances that the drones pose no known threats to public safety. As such, I urge you to share any relevant information about these drone sightings with the public.”
“Without transparency, I believe that rumors, fear and misinformation will continue to spread,” he urged.
The New Jersey Senate Republican Caucus, which includes Sen. Kristin Corrado (NJ-40), demanded more action from federal authorities – and state officials, too – in a letter to the governor’s office on Thursday.
Assemblyman Christopher DePhillips, who also represents the 40th District, said that action is needed in a joint statement with Assembly Republican Leader John DiMaio.
“Our national security and the safety of New Jersey residents are at stake,” DePhillips emphasized. “We need transparency, real-time intelligence sharing and a clear action plan within the next 48 hours. Delays are unacceptable.”
New Jersey Sen. Britnee Timberlake, a Democrat from the state’s 34th District, made a different sort of plea last week.
Timberlake acknowledged that the drone sightings have raised concerns among residents in her district – and rightfully so. Their questions deserve answers, she said, urging federal authorities to provide more information.
However, Timberlake also urged her peers – and all other local leaders – to refrain from “exploiting” the fears of their constituents.
“Spreading rumors, outright lies, conspiracy theories and engaging in political theater with partisan objectives is counterproductive to the well-being of every citizen,” she asserted.
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