Government agencies confirm that joint investigation into drone sightings uncovers no threat: "We acknowledge the worry"
No evidence found that drone sightings pose threat to national security or public safety, said four agencies.
On Monday, government agencies released a statement about the ongoing investigation into the recent drone sightings in various parts of the country, particularly in New Jersey and the mid-Atlantic region.
The agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI, the Federal Aviation Administration, and the Department of Defense, acknowledged the concern but stated that there is no evidence that the drones are "anomalous" or a threat to national security or public safety.
In recent weeks, the FBI has received over 5,000 reports of suspected drone sightings, resulting in about 100 leads, as stated.
Advanced technology and trained observers were dispatched to northeastern states to aid local and state authorities in investigations.
After analyzing the technical information and feedback from concerned citizens, we determined that the sightings reported so far include a mix of legal commercial drones, recreational drones, and law enforcement drones, as well as manned fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and stars mistakenly identified as drones.
The agencies have urged Congress to enact legislation when it returns to extend and expand existing counter-drone authorities to identify and mitigate any threat that may emerge, despite stating that they have found no risk during their investigation thus far.
The agencies acknowledged the occurrence of drone sightings near military facilities in New Jersey and other areas, even within restricted airspace, but stated that they are not a novel issue.
"The Department of Defense (DoD) takes unauthorized access over its airspace seriously and collaborates closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement authorities, as necessary. Local commanders are actively involved to ensure that appropriate detection and mitigation measures are in place."
Michael Shellenberger, the founder of Public News, criticized the Biden administration for acknowledging the presence of drones in restricted airspace following an initial denial.
"Biden officials previously emphasized that drones had not entered restricted airspace, but now the DHS admits that drones have infiltrated military bases in a nonchalant manner, as if it's no big deal."
According to the statement, over one million drones are legally registered in the US and thousands of them fly daily for various purposes, including commercial, hobbyist, or law enforcement activities.
As technology continues to evolve, we anticipate that the number will continue to rise.
Law enforcement agencies will continue to receive support from the DHS, FBI, FAA, and DoD in investigating drone sightings.
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