Drones latest: Biden insists flying objects pose ‘no danger’ as FBI issues urgent firearm and laser warning
The bureau has warned New Jersey residents to avoid shooting down or shining lasers at suspect unmanned aircraft systems after complaints from pilots
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Your support makes all the difference.President Joe Biden insisted that there is “no sense of danger” surrounding the mysterious spate of drone sightings across the US.
“Nothing nefarious apparently, but they’re checking it all out,” he told reporters at the White House on Tuesday amid growing public demands for an explanation. “We’re following this closely, but so far no sense of danger.”
The FBI also issued a warning to New Jersey residents, urging them not to shoot down or shine lasers at suspected drones flying overhead. The bureau, along with state police, noted an increase of pilots being hit in the eyes with lasers, after those on the ground have mistaken planes for unmanned aircraft systems (UAS’s).
“There is also a concern with people possibly firing weapons at what they believe to be a UAS,” the agency added in a statement.
Members of Congress were briefed on the potential origins of the drones in a classified House Intelligence Committee meeting on Tuesday by Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder.
Officials continue to brush off claims that the UAS’s are linked with anything more clandestine, with Ryder telling reporters: “Completely understand the concerns, completely will reinforce we’re taking it seriously.”
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Lawmakers reportedly want more answers on the East Coast drones
Lawmakers reportedly want more answers from the government regarding recent drone sightings around the eastern US.
“Why aren’t these things being intercepted?,” New Jersey Rep. Chris Smit said, according to NEXSTAR.
He said that while federal agencies insist there is no threat to public safety or national security.
“It’s not reassuring,” Smith said. “Tell us how you know that.”
Connecticut state police use special detection system to track drones, report says
Connecticut state police are reportedly using a special detection system to track drones as they fly over Northeast states.
The Coast Guard Station in New London uses a machine called a fixed drone detection system, and can track drones within a five-mile radius.
“I can’t speculate on any sightings that have been unconfirmed and I wouldn’t want to create any of that hysteria. Looking at videos I’ve seen on the news or that have been passed on to us, a lot of these have been matched up to manned aircraft flights or things that are naturally going to be in the sky,” Sergeant Kevin Pelkey, of the Connecticut State Police Drone Detection Division, told WFSB.
House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman claims drones are from China
House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul told reporters on Tuesday that he believes that some unidentified drones over New York and New Jersey are “spy drones” from China.
It is unclear what evidence the Texas representative had to support these beliefs.
“We want answers but the response I’m getting is we don’t know whose drones these are,” McCaul said, according to The New York Post.
He spoke before a classified briefing to members of the House intelligence committee, the outlet reported.
After the briefing, lawmakers said the government had explained the drones as manned aircraft. Officials have repeated that there is no threat to national security or public safety. Drones have reportedly also been spotted around a US Air Force base in Germany.
“We need to identify who is behind these drones,” he said. “My judgment based on my experience is that those that are over our military sites are adversarial and most likely are coming from the People’s Republic of China.”
If drones aren’t a threat, then why did Congress receive a classified briefing?
If drones aren’t a threat, then why did Congress receive a classified briefing? That’s one question Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder was asked on Tuesday.
“I’d have to refer you to Congress on that,” he replied.
“I can assure you ... that again we are sharing as much information as we can based on what we know.”
After Ryder’s remarks, one lawmaker that attended a classified House Intelligence Committee briefing on the matter told reporters that officials said the drones were manned aircraft.
DC lawmakers frustrated as officials reject drone conspiracies – but provide no real answers
DC lawmakers frustrated as officials provide no clear answers on drone sightings
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Illinois Democratic Rep. Krishnamoorthi says technology of drones has outpaced the law
House Intelligence Committee member says he wasn’t told anything that isn’t public knowledge
Following a classified briefing, House Intelligence Committee member and California Representative Jimmy Gomez reportedly said that the public needs to have faith that the government and its agencies are on top of the current drone situation.
When asked if he was told anything that isn’t public knowledge, he said: “Off the top of my head, no.”
Pentagon does not see a ‘connection at this point’ between NJ and Air Force base drone activity
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder told reporters on Tuesday that authorities did not see a “connection” at this point between drone activity in New Jersey and those spotted at Air Force bases.
Pentagon says authorities have to assess any drones approaching military bases on a ‘case by case basis'
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder discussed the East Coast drones in a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon.
“Similar to vehicles that may inadvertently approach a base, the same came be true for drones. As to what constitutes a threat, that obviously has to be assessed on a case by case basis, depending on what the drone is doing [and] where it’s going,” he told reporters, speaking about drones that approach military installations.
In the US, the authority the military has to detect and track “these kinds of things” is much different than in a combat zone outside the country, noted Ryder.
“For very good reasons, We don’t collect intelligence on American citizens,” he added.
Ryder also responded to concern from the general public.
“I think that in the way that you now have this modern technology and the ability, you could go out of here right after this briefing and go and buy a drone and you could fly it around your neighborhood,” he said.
“And, as long as you’re flying it appropriately and not in restricted airspace, there’s nothing illegal about flying that drone.”
Pentagon says drones are not Department of Defense assets
Pentagon Press Secretary Air Force Major General Pat Ryder stated Tuesday that none of the drones recently sighted around the eastern US are Department of Defense assets.
“Yes, they are not DOD assets,” he said.
To his knowledge, Ryder said there are no experimental programs underway that are testing drones.
“There’s over a million drones registered in the United States and, on any given day, approximately 8,500 drones are in flight,” he added.
Ryder said it was “entirely possible” some of the drones could be up to maligned activity.
“But the vast majority: that is not the case,” he said.
Drones flying over military installations are not new, Ryder noted.
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