Police are continuing to investigate the origin of an aircraft distress signal in Ocean County that initiated a search of a densely wooded area.
The signal was triggered in an area east of Warren Grove section of Stafford Township on Tuesday, leading authorities and State Police search a state forest for a downed plane using a helicopter, ATVs, forest fire vehicles and officers on foot.
No evidence has surfaced that an aircraft had crashed in the area of the signal, Stafford Township police said Tuesday evening. No flights in the area have been reported as being overdue, as well, police said.
An FAA spokesperson on Wednesday said the agency had not received any reports of a downed aircraft in the area.
Warren Grove is a small section of Stafford Township, with most of the town’s center spanning County Road 539. The town is encompassed by the Warren Grove Recreational Area, 617 acres of undeveloped land in the Pinelands, according to the New Jersey State Park Service.
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Eric Conklin may be reached at econklin@njadvancemedia.com.
