A vital US Air Force base in Ohio was forced to close its airspace for hours in the latest security scare caused by a mysterious drone, officials confirmed on Monday.
The massive Wright-Patterson Air Force Base was closed for four hours from late Friday night to early Saturday morning due to concerns about “small unmanned aerial systems,” Bob Purtiman, chief spokesman for the 88th Air Base Wing, told The Post.
An air traffic controller was heard warning a medical aircraft – identified as “MedFlight 8” – to “exercise extreme caution for heavy UAS movement at the base”. According to a recording obtained by the war zoneWho first reported fear.
The controller tells the pilot that “security forces are handling the situation” and the base’s Class D airspace – typically the area around the airport up to an altitude of 2,500 feet – will be closed.
The drones “varied in size and configuration” and were being monitored by base units, Purtiman said, without specifying how many were sighted.
“To date, installation leadership has determined that no intrusions have impacted base residents, facilities or properties,” he said.
The Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for additional information.
The drone encounter at the airport, about five miles outside Dayton, comes after thousands of reports of drones patrolling the air, mainly in new jerseyAngry residents and lawmakers who are asked for answer and action by the federal government.
Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County, New Jersey, confirmed last week that there were “multiple” drones invaded its airspace,
Picatinny Arsenal in Morris County was requested and received temporary flight ban to its airspace as of December 26 as a result of reports of an abundance of drone sightings in the area, officials said.
New York’s Stewart International Airport closed Friday night due to a mysterious drone, prompting Governor Hochul Ask the Fed to intervene,
Mysterious aircraft have also been reported seen near US military installations abroad.
In early December, unidentified drones were seen flying over the US air base in Ramstein, Germany. According to USAF officialsThese have also been reported at air bases used by the USAF in Britain, CNN reported,
The 8,000-acre Wright-Patterson Base is home to major U.S. Air Force commands, including the Air Force Research Laboratory, which studies ways to protect Americans from technological warfare.
As CNN reports, the base is home to the Air Force Materiel Command, which “conducts research, development, test and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and logistics support essential to keeping the Air Force’s weapons systems ready for combat.” Is.”
The National Air and Space Intelligence Center, which identifies air, space and cyber threats, is also on site.
of the Biden administration National Security Advisor distanced himself from this incidentClaiming that unusual objects are planes or helicopters that are people drones understand,
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said Sunday that some agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “disable” drones. ,
“We need to expand those authorities,” he said.
(Tags to translate) US News (T) Air Force (T) Drones (T) Military (T) NJ Drone Spotted
