Officials push back on online rumors, say mystery drones are not tracking radioactive material

New Jersey officials have debunked claims that drones were deployed to search for missing radioactive material from a shipping container, following social media speculation linked to reports of mystery drone sightings.

The shipment was a piece of medical equipment called a pin source, which contains a radioactive component commonly used to calibrate PET scanners. The pin source has since been recovered.

The rumor gained traction online and was echoed by Belleville Mayor Michael Melham during a Tuesday interview, when he suggested the drones, which have been spotted over several eastern states in recent weeks, might be involved in a search.