The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday it did “not have a report on” an aircraft distress signal that prompted New Jersey law enforcement to scour a densely wooded portion of Ocean County on Tuesday.
What triggered that alert remains a mystery to Jersey Shore police, who joined in the search around 3:15 p.m.
“Stafford Township Police, along with Barnegat Township Police and the New Jersey State Police, are currently investigating a distress signal sent to the FAA from an unknown aircraft in a rural area east of Warren Grove,” Stafford Township Police said in a press release Tuesday afternoon.
Law enforcement dispatched a helicopter, forest vehicles and foot units to search for signs of wreckage
Stafford police later said they found no evidence an aircraft had crashed and New Jersey State police have found no signs of a downed plane either. No flights in the area over the Warren Grove area were reported missing or late for arrival.
Police in Barnegat posted on Facebook Tuesday they too received “an unconfirmed report of a crash of a small aircraft in the western portion of our township,” but found no reason for concern.
Initial reports of an emergency alert originated from Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst indicating the reception of a single Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) signal in the area of western Barnegat, cops said.
Military officials contacted Atlantic City Airport, where no ELT signal was detected, according to Barnegat police.
The FAA said it would provide further information if it materialized.
