White House sees ‘no evidence’ of threat from drones and says ‘many’ sightings were of ‘manned aircraft’

The White House says many of the aircraft sightings over New Jersey in recent days have been of manned aircraft, not drones - (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

The White House is knocking down claims that New Jersey’s airspace has been invaded by drones controlled by hostile nations and says many of the aircraft sightings that have been cited to support such assertions are actually normal piloted airplanes.

In recent days, residents of the Garden State have been posting videos of what they describe as sightings of unmanned aircraft over the areas where the U.S. Army has a research facility as well as President-elect Donald Trump’s Bedminster, New Jersey golf club.