A series of unexplained drone incursions have raised alarms at military installations across the United States and overseas.
According to Daily Mail, the wave of drone sightings began at Virginia's Langley Air Force Base in October before spreading to military facilities in New Jersey, Ohio, Texas, England, and Germany.
The incidents have baffled Pentagon officials and local law enforcement. Drones appear in formations and demonstrate sophisticated flight patterns. Multiple bases have reported groups of unmanned aerial vehicles operating in restricted airspace, sometimes hovering in groups of six or flying at altitudes up to 4,000 feet.
The first major incident occurred at Langley Air Force Base, where mysterious drones operated for 17 consecutive days. The aircraft displayed advanced capabilities, with larger fixed-wing drones flying above while smaller quadcopters maneuvered below. Gen. Mark Kelly, a senior commander at the base, noted that even with the Air Force's resources, the drones proved nearly impossible to intercept.
White Settlement Police Chief Christopher Cook shared his observations of the recent drone activity near Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth. He stated:
Out of an abundance of caution, reports have been initiated and we are working with the FBI, NCIS, and Air Force OSI to determine the flight trajectories and who was piloting the unmanned aircraft
The incidents have expanded internationally, with U.S. bases in England and Germany reporting similar drone activities. Between November 20-26, three Royal Air Force bases in Norfolk and Suffolk counties experienced unmanned aerial system incursions. Germany's Ramstein Air Base documented drone sightings in early December.
The White House acknowledged the drone presence but downplayed immediate concerns, stating that unauthorized access over Department of Defense airspace is not unprecedented. Multiple federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and FBI, issued a joint statement attributing some sightings to commercial, hobbyist, and law enforcement drones.
Public response to the drone activity has grown increasingly tense, with some citizens taking matters into their own hands. Reports indicate individuals attempting to disable drones using lasers or firearms, particularly in New Jersey, where sightings have been concentrated.
President-elect Donald Trump addressed the situation on social media, calling for military action if necessary. State officials have suggested possible foreign surveillance operations by adversaries such as Iran, China, or Russia.
The pattern of drone sightings has expanded beyond military installations, with over 5,000 civilian reports documented across the country in the past month. Theories about the origin of these drones range from mass hysteria to foreign espionage operations.
Law enforcement agencies have strongly cautioned against civilian attempts to interfere with the drones. The New Jersey State Police and FBI's Newark office specifically warned residents to cease attempts at downing the aircraft. Federal officials maintain there is no evidence suggesting these drones pose an immediate threat to national security or public safety, despite mounting concerns from residents and local authorities.
The recent wave of drone sightings has created a complex web of security concerns stretching from Virginia to Texas and across the Atlantic to U.S. military installations in Europe. The incidents began at Langley Air Force Base in October and have since affected multiple military facilities, demonstrating sophisticated capabilities that have evaded detection and interception.
As federal agencies continue their investigation, the growing frequency of drone sightings near sensitive military sites has prompted increased coordination between local law enforcement, military security, and federal authorities. While officials maintain there is no immediate threat, the inability to identify the operators or purpose of these drone swarms remains a significant security concern.
