DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) — An unexpected security concern over the weekend shut down Wright Patterson Air Force Base for hours over the weekend.
A spokesperson for the 88th Air Base Wing confirmed that drones were spotted flying over and near the campus on Friday, shutting the base down for four hours. The shutdown ended early Saturday morning.
“We are taking all appropriate measures to safeguard Wright-Patterson and the residents, said Robert Purtiman with the 88th Wing. “You know, our units continue to monitor the airspace and are working with local authorities to ensure the safety of, again, our base personnel facilities and assets.”
The drones spotted were small, unmanned and did not disrupt operations on the base according to reports. Their presence has raised security concerns, though it is not clear if these sightings are connected to the potential car-sized flying drones reported on the east coast.
The topic of drones and concerns over their use is one being discussed across the country.
As of Oct. 2024, there are nearly 800,000 drones registered nationwide.
“We need to know who’s behind it,” said Florida State Representative Mike Waltz.
“The administration has repeatedly assured people that they are safe,” said Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar. “However, one, we need a briefing for the members of the Senate to figure out what’s going on here. Two, we need more transparency.”
The Federal Aviation Administration is of the belief that these incidents are becoming so frequent that more strict rules on drone usage are necessary. The FAA is also advocating for tougher penalties for those who break usage laws.
2 NEWS reached out to Congressman Mike Turner for comment.
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