2024 drone sightings
2024 drone sightings refers to sightings of unidentified drones in late 2024, during which there was a large wave of reported sightings.
Europe
[edit]United Kingdom
[edit]In late November 2024, there were significant reports of drone activities over US air bases in England, before the major wave in the US which received major news coverage. There were also increased sightings over US military bases in the United Kingdom, in December 2024.[1][2][3][4][5][6]
Germany
[edit]In August 2024, there were some reports of unidentified drones around US bases; at the time this was not the major news item that it later became in December 2024. One drone was reported to have traveled at 100 miles per hour. Various Gernman officials began inestigations.[7] German news outlets reported some drone sightings over a chemical park in Brunsbuettel.[8] One NATO air base raised its alert level due to drones.[9][10]
In summer 2024, the prosecutor's office in Flensburg began investigating possible threats of espionage due to concerns about drones.[11] German authorities began an official investigation into overflights by unknown drones, at sensitive sites.[12]
The US military confirmed increased sightings around bases in Germany in December 2024. This included Ramstein Air Base.[13][14] These sightings were reported in the newsmagazine Der Spiegel, as well as various US and UK news publications.[15][16] Sightings were also reported around industrial facilities owned by Rheinmetall, a manufacturer of various weapons.[17] This was discussed at an official conference by interior ministers from German states.[11]
North America
[edit]United States
[edit]In March 2024, some news outlets reported significant sightings of unidentified drones over Langley Air Force Base, a highly important base in Virginia. this was well before the major wave of sightings in December 2024 which caused major news headlines and coverage. This wave of sightings resulted in major response by US government aircraft, including a NASA aircraft.[18]
In August 2024, a wave of drone sightings over Plant 42, a US Air Force facility in Palmdale, California, caused a major wave of concern. The US Air Force officially confirmed these reports, in replies to journalists' inquiries. In response, the FAA imposed new restrictions in the airspace over that facility.[19]
In December numerous reports indicated thousands of possible drone sightings in the USA. The FBI is leading an interagency investigation that includes the DHS, various state police agencies.[20][21]
In mid-December, a Chinese national was arrested by federal officials for flying a drone over Vandenberg Air Force Base in California in late November 2024.[22][23][24]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Are mystery drones above US bases in England something sinister? by Matt Precey, 29 November 2024 BBC.
- ^ Mystery Drones Spotted Over U.S. Air Bases in Britain, Nov 27, 2024, NY Times.
- ^ Mystery drones seen over three US air bases in UK, 23 November 2024, BBC.
- ^ Drones spotted near 4 bases used by US Air Force in England By Danica Kirka, The Associated Press, via website for Air Force Times.
- ^ US Air Force says drones spotted over its military bases in England, By Reuters November 26, 2024.
- ^ Unidentified drones spotted over three US Air Force bases in Britain, By Rob Picheta and Natasha Bertrand, CNN November 24, 2024.
- ^ Drone sightings near bases, infrastructure unnerve German officials, By Linus Höller, Aug 29, 2024, DefenseNews website.
- ^ German NATO air base lowers security level after ‘potential threat’ By AP Staff Friday, Aug 23, 2024, posted at Defensenews website.
- ^ Alert at NATO base in Germany was due to drone threat, source says, By Reuters, August 26, 2024.
- ^ Drone sightings near bases, infrastructure unnerve German officials, By Linus Höller, Thursday, Aug 29, 2024, Defensenews.
- ^ a b Drones in the sky: Germany probes alleged espionage flights over Ramstein base. In recent weeks, drones have been spotted over key facilities in Germany, including the Ramstein military base. The site Spiegel.de reports that German security services are investigating these incidents as potential espionage activities. The American military has confirmed these incidents., by Bartłomiej Chudy, 14 December 2024, Daily Wrap
- ^ Germany concerned about Russian drone overflights of sensitive civilian and military sites An investigation was opened on Friday for 'suspicion of agent activity for sabotage purposes.'By Cécile Boutelet (Berlin (Germany) correspondent), August 24, 2024, Le Monde.
- ^ Ramstein Air Base confirms unauthorized drone activity earlier this month, By JENNIFER H. SVAN, STARS AND STRIPES, December 16, 2024.
- ^ More Small Drones: Air Force Bases in Ohio, Utah, Germany All Report Sightings Dec. 17, 2024 | By Greg Hadley, Air and Space Forces Magazine.
- ^ U.S. military confirms drone sightings at air base in Germany, By Andreas Rinke and Rachel More, December 13, 2024, Reuters.
- ^ Unidentified drones spotted over US air base in Germany, report says Guardian, Dec 13, 2024.
- ^ Unidentified drones seen over US military base, industrial site in Germany, France24, Dec 13, 2024.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph; Rogoway, Tyler (March 15, 2024). "Mysterious Drones Swarmed Langley AFB For Weeks". The War Zone.
- ^ Trevithick, Joseph; Altman, Howard (August 19, 2024). "Palmdale UFO Scare Leads To Revelations About Mystery Drone Incursions Over Secretive Plant 42". The War Zone.
- ^ Nicholls, Flynn (2024-12-10). "FBI Issues Statement as Mystery Drone Sightings Reach New York". Newsweek. Archived from the original on December 10, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-10.
- ^ Pastis, Stephen (2024-12-14). "Mystery Drones Over New Jersey And Nearby States: Trump Weighs In As More Sightings Reported (Updating)". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 14, 2024. Retrieved 2024-12-14.
- ^ Northern California Man Arrested for Allegedly Flying Drone Over and Photographing Vandenberg Space Force Base, Wednesday, December 11, 2024, US JUstice Dept official website.
- ^ Chinese national arrested after ‘drone flown over US air base' Aircraft said to have taken photographs on same day SpaceX rocket launched with ‘sensitive payload’, Tony Diver, 10 December 2024.
- ^ Here’s what happened in 5 places that had ‘mystery’ drone sightings before N.J. Updated: Dec. 18, 2024, By Tina Kelley | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
External links
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