Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio, was temporarily shut down this weekend after reports of strange flying objects, believed to be drones, in the area.
The airbase was closed for several hours on Friday night and early Saturday after small unmanned aircraft were spotted flying near the base. This happened during a wave of similar reports from across the country.
Over the past month, people have seen groups of mysterious objects flying at night in different states, but little is known about who or what is behind them. Drones or drone-like objects have been spotted in places like California, Connecticut, Florida, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia. At least one airport had to be closed last week because of suspected drone activity.
Some of these drones have flown over military sites, raising concerns among residents in states like New Jersey and New York. However, government officials have reassured the public that military bases are well-equipped to detect and handle drones, and security teams are trained to identify them.
Last week, the FBI confirmed that these drones do not belong to the U.S. military, and foreign governments are not behind the sightings.
On Sunday, Wright-Patterson officials explained that their airspace was closed for four hours because of the mysterious drones spotted nearby. The shutdown meant no flights were allowed in or out of the base. Officials didn’t say how high the drones were flying, but they described them as varying in shape and size.
“None of the incidents impacted our base, residents, or facilities,” said Robert Purtiman, a spokesperson for the base.
There is growing frustration from lawmakers, who are demanding clearer answers about these drones. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deploy a special radar system to help track these objects.
“We need better detection systems like the Robin Radar, which can detect drones in all directions, not just in a straight line,” said Schumer. He has asked DHS to send these systems to the New York and New Jersey areas.
Despite some concern, many officials believe the flying objects might just be airplanes or helicopters. However, a few incidents, like one in Boston, have raised alarms. Two men were arrested after drones were seen flying too close to Logan International Airport.
The Department of Defense has also confirmed sightings of drones near military sites, including Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. However, they have found no evidence that these drones are a threat or being operated by foreign governments. This lack of clear answers has led some local authorities to take action.
In other parts of the country, mysterious drones have been seen in places like San Diego and Bowie, Maryland. In New Jersey, Sheriff Michael Mastronardy reported that one of his deputies saw 50 drones over the ocean, which led to a response from the U.S. Coast Guard.
Mastronardy said his department quickly contacted state police, the FBI, and the Coast Guard to investigate.
