Plane or drone?: Here's how you can check to see what's flying overhead
PHILADELPHIA - Planes, drones, or visitors from a galaxy far, far, away?
As officials continue to investigate the origins of mysterious drones spotted in our area, there's an easy (and free) way to help you tell what you've spotted.
Flightradar24.com provides users with a real-time radar of active flights, and gives information about each aircraft, including flight numbers, origin and destination.
The website is free to use with ads, but users can also unlock more flight information by signing up for a subscription.
Several sightings of mysterious drones have been reported in parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania in recent weeks. Theories about their origins have run wild on social media, and on Wednesday New Jersey Rep. Jeff Van Drew claimed that an ‘Iranian mothership’ was housing the elusive crafts.
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‘Iranian mothership’ behind mystery drone sightings, New Jersey congressman suggests
An 'Iranian mothership' could be behind a series of recent drone sightings in New Jersey, Rep. Jeff Van Drew said in an interview Wednesday citing 'very high sources.' He also called for the drones to be shot down.
"These drones should be shot down," Van Drew said during an interview on FOX News. "Whether it was some crazy hobbyist that we can’t imagine, or whether it is Iran – and I think it very possibly could be – they should be shot down."
In a letter to urging President Joe Biden to "act swiftly," Van Drew claimed the Coast Guard has observed drones coming into New Jersey from the Atlantic Ocean and that a sea-based Iranian mothership is currently missing from port.
The Department of Defense quickly shot down Van Drew's theory, adding that there is no so-called ‘mothership' harboring the drones. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said the drones don't pose a threat at this time, but admitted that his administration is taking the investigation "deadly seriously."