US allays concerns about drones.

Speaking on ABC News on December 15, US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas sought to allay growing public concerns about the mysterious appearance of drones in the northeastern United States in recent times.

Many social media accounts have recently been circulating images of "strange" drones, primarily in New York and New Jersey, with some incidents reported in Maryland and Virginia.

The US has over 1 million registered drones in use.

"Some drone sightings are indeed drones. Others are manned aircraft that are often mistaken for drones," Mayorkas said. "However, there is no doubt that drones are present. I want to assure the American people that we are pursuing this matter," Mayorkas emphasized, affirming that the public would be immediately informed if any foreign interference or criminal activity is detected. However, he stated that the Department of Homeland Security has not yet recorded any suspicious incidents.

Trump calls for shooting down mysterious drones in the US.

Even as the minister tried to reassure the public, Boston police announced on the same day that they had arrested two suspects the previous night (December 14) on suspicion of dangerous drone operation near Logan International Airport. A third suspect fled the scene and is being sought by police.

In a letter to Mayorkas dated December 15, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy drone detection technology throughout New York and New Jersey to address the threat posed by drones, AFP reported. He also urged the Biden administration to act quickly to ensure easier cooperation between federal, state, and local officials in detecting drones. A "shoot-down" plan should also be in place to respond promptly in case critical infrastructure or crowded areas are threatened.

On the same day, New York State Governor Kathy Hochul announced that authorities had agreed to deploy a state-of-the-art drone detection system. "I am grateful for this support, but we need more. Congress must pass legislation that empowers us to directly address the drone issue," Hochul wrote on X (her former Twitter name).

Speaking on CBS News on December 15, Mike Waltz, the nominee for National Security Advisor in the upcoming Washington administration, said that what happened reflected problems in protecting US airspace. "President-elect Donald Trump has mentioned deploying the Iron Dome air defense system (manufactured by Israel) in the US," Waltz said. According to him, if put into operation, the Iron Dome needs to be equipped with the capability to handle drones, not just missiles.

Even Democratic lawmakers are urging the Biden administration to take more proactive action in addressing people's concerns. Representative Jim Himes of the House Intelligence Committee disagreed with the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) "we don't know" response regarding the drone incidents. Senator Amy Klobuchar urged the White House to provide information to explain "what's going on here."

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/my-tran-an-lo-ngai-ve-drone-185241216222431879.htm