Drone Activity Causes Airspace Closure Over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
For nearly four hours, airspace was closed over Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio due to drone activity. The base’s spokesperson, Bob Purtiman, confirmed that the restriction was in place while authorities monitored the situation.
According to Purtiman, the drones, referred to as “small unmanned aerial systems,” were being tracked by base units, and none of the incursions had impacted base residents, facilities, or assets.
The airspace closure was reported by The War Zone, a military news outlet, on Sunday. A recording of the Wright-Patterson air traffic control tower was shared on YouTube, revealing a controller instructing aircraft to use extreme caution due to heavy UAS movement on the base.
Wright-Patterson is one of the United States’ most critical Air Force bases, hosting several major commands, including the Air Force Research Lab and Air Force Materiel Command.
The incident comes amid a string of mysterious drone sightings in the Northeast and abroad. Drone activity has also been reported near other military installations and critical infrastructure. While officials have urged calm, there is no evidence suggesting the sightings pose a security threat.
In the past, drone sightings have been reported near British air bases used by the US Air Force, and drone incursions have occurred in the US, primarily in the Northeast. In recent weeks, residents in Ohio and New Jersey have reported seeing drones flying over critical infrastructure and military sites.
Experts believe that the recent surge in drone activity is creating confusion and exposing gaps in airspace security. “What you’re now seeing is people are starting to fly drones… to either make more chaos or to look for their own drones,” said Rob D’Amico, the former chief of the FBI counter-drone unit. “They have to start telling the people and other government officials what they’re actually doing, what they’re seeing… the more transparency.”
Both the Department of Homeland Security and local law enforcement are investigating the reported sightings, striving to determine the nature of the aircraft involved.