Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio temporarily closed its airspace on December 13 after drone activity was detected in the area, a base spokesperson said on December 15.
Bob Purtiman, director of public affairs for the 88th Air Base Wing, told media that the airspace was blocked after small unmanned aerial systems were detected flying over the air base late Friday and early Saturday. .
Purtiman said installation leadership determined that none of the raids affected base residents, facilities or assets.
Purtiman said Defense industry news outlet The War Zone said the drones varied in size and configuration, without giving further details. It was not immediately clear where the drones came from.
The air base issued a Notice to Air Missions to announce the closure of airspace after the drones were detected. The airspace has since been reopened.
Purtiman said the 88th Air Base Wing, the host unit for Wright Patterson Air Force Base, was working with local authorities in Ohio to ensure the safety of base personnel, facilities and assets.
“The Air Force is taking all appropriate measures to safeguard our facilities and residents,” he said.
The Epoch Times contacted Wright Patterson Air Force Base for details about the incident.
Located northeast of Dayton, Ohio, Wright Patterson Air Force Base is home to the Air Force Materiel Command, which conducts research, testing and evaluation, and provides acquisition management services and necessary logistics support. to keep Air Force weapons systems ready for war.” “according to your website.
The base also houses the Air Force research laboratory and the National Air and Space Intelligence Center, which serves as the US Department of Defense’s primary source for “foreign air and space threats.”
The incident occurred in the middle information of unidentified drone-like objects flying over parts of New Jersey, New York and California.
Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, saying The federal government will take steps to address concerns, but noted that officials do not have the authority to take them down.
“I want to assure the American public that we, in the federal government, have deployed additional resources, personnel and technology to assist the New Jersey State Police in addressing drone sightings,” he told the host of “This Week” on Sunday. ABC News, George Stephanopoulos. .
Mayorkas said the sightings are “actually” drones, but that some are “manned aircraft that are commonly confused with drones,” echoing previous statements made by the FBI and White House. He did not provide further details.
He stated that the US government has limited authority to shoot down a drone, noting that more than 8,000 drones fly across the country every day.
Jack Phillips contributed to this report.
