‘Those that are over our military sites are adversarial and most likely are coming from the People’s Republic of China,’ Rep. Michael McCaul said.
A sudden spike in unidentified drone sightings near sensitive government sites is unnerving residents and lawmakers alike.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Dec. 17 that it is banning drone flights over 22 critical infrastructure locations in response to the incidents, though the White House maintains that there is no credible threat to public safety.
The concern follows more than a month of reported drone sightings in or near the airspace of airports and military facilities in California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Virginia, as well as overseas bases in Germany and the UK.
In all, the FBI said it has received more than 5,000 reports of drone sightings in the last month; of which the agency said about 100 warrant further investigation.
Below is a timeline of the most notable confirmed sightings.
Dec. 16 – Hill Air Force Base, Utah
Several drone sightings are confirmed at Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Dec. 16. One drone flies close to the fuel storage at the facility.
A spokesperson for the base told local media that the base is undertaking measures to safeguard personnel, equipment, and infrastructure but that the incidents have not impacted operation.
The base houses the Ogden Air Logistics Complex, which oversees the management of a wide range of aircraft, missiles, and software for the military. It is also home to several dozen advanced F-35 fighter aircraft.
Drone encounters in this location began in 2022 and have continued intermittently to the present.
Dec. 13–17 – Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
White House National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby tells reporters that drones had penetrated the restricted airspace around several military complexes, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio, which houses the Air and Space Forces’ national intelligence centers.
The number of drones, their type, and formation fluctuated from Dec. 13 through 17, a base spokesperson tells Stars and Stripes, a Department of Defense-managed publication.
No damage or threat is reported, but at least one incident forces the facility to close its airfields for four hours.
