"It was flying on the Mexican side of the border when it had a mechanical malfunction, " Alday said.

CNN: Drone crash in El Paso under investigation

The aircraft experienced a "catastrophic mechanical malfunction" during takeoff from Naval Air Station Oceana on Friday, raining jet fuel over Virginia Beach before plunging to the ground, according to residents and Navy officials.

CNN: 'Oh my God!' Callers recount Navy jet crash

The jet carried a student pilot in the front seat and an experienced instructor behind him, and the leakage of jet fuel was "one of the indications that there was a mechanical malfunction, " Navy Capt.

CNN: 'Oh my God!' Callers recount Navy jet crash

Mexican Attorney General spokeswoman Rocio Torres denied her country's involvement with the drone Friday, but later in the day, another Mexican official said the drone was being operated by the Ministry of Public Security and was following a target at the time of the mechanical malfunction.

CNN: Drone crash in El Paso under investigation