Drones and Radioactive Material: No Connection in New Jersey Mystery

Recently, rumors suggested that drones spotted in New Jersey might be searching for missing radioactive material. However, officials have clarified that these speculations are unfounded. The mystery began when a piece of medical equipment containing a small amount of the radioactive isotope Germanium-68 went missing during transport. The device, used for cancer scans, was traveling from Nazha Cancer Center in Newfield, New Jersey, to its destination. Unfortunately, the shipping container arrived damaged and empty. The mayor of Belleville, New Jersey, Michael Melham, fueled these theories during a TV appearance. He wondered if the drones could be searching for this lost radioactive material. But here’s the thing: the material has been found and properly disposed of. It turns out that FedEx temporarily misplaced the item, and it was later delivered to the manufacturer. Officials from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) stated that the radioactive device has a very low-level radiation source approved for shipping through common carriers like FedEx. They also confirmed that drones were not used to find the missing material. Additionally, agencies like the National Nuclear Security Administration don’t use drones for nuclear detection missions. So, the drones and the missing radioactive material are not linked.