The New York Police Department (NYPD) recovered a massive drone measuring more than 5 feet in diameter that was reportedly abandoned in the Brooklyn Navy Yard. The New York Post reports cops responded to a tip via email of the drone sighting, which they found on the sidewalk.
The source of the drone, identified by a passer-by, is Amogy, Inc., a “sustainable-energy startup working to use ammonia as a renewable fuel resource, including for aerial vehicles,” according to The Post. Amogy CEO Seonghoon Woo confirmed that the drone is his company’s property, noting that it was placed on the sidewalk after a company party about one month ago. According to a spokesperson from the company, the drone, which is now inoperable, was used in a demonstration of its “clean energy technology” three years ago. It has been on display outside of the company’s headquarters since that time.
Amogy has fully cooperated with law enforcement since it was taken into possession by the NYPD for a brief period. After determining that the drone was not a threat, the NYPD returned it to the company.
The discovery of this drone comes as others flying over New York City and other states have drawn national attention and concern. After stealing headline after headline, Americans have grown worried about the drone sightings as the reason for their presence has yet to be explained.
According to the New York Post, “Rebecca Weiner, NYPD Deputy Commissioner of counterterrorism and intelligence, told reporters at an unrelated briefing that despite drone mania taking hold in New York and New Jersey over the past month, the perceived surge in sightings may be attributable to the power of suggestion.”
Weiner explained that the sightings of drones flying above New York City are nothing out of the ordinary and “quite normal” given the numerous drones seen everyday. Weiner added that there are about 2,000 drone flights each week in the city, but a lack of reporting about them has left their use essentially unrecognized by New Yorkers.
Recently, the drone sightings over New York and New Jersey have grabbed headline after headline, leading some to panic over the mystery behind the devices. What is happening now, Weiner said, is an increase in reports of the drones which does not mean that there is an increase in threats.
New Yorkers, including congressional leaders, have demanded an explanation for the drone sightings, but thus far, all the federal government has shared is that the devices are “legal and lawful drones,” according to National Security Communications Adviser John Kirby. In an appearance on FOX News, Kirby said, the government’s assessment is that the aircraft activity is not a national security threat because of the detection analyses done by officials including the FBI and the Department of Defense. The sightings near and over military bases are being investigated in a different category, Kirby added, noting that there has been no disruption at military bases because of the sightings.
In response to President-elect Trump calling out the Biden administration for not telling Americans exactly what is going on and keeping them in suspense, Kirby reiterated and maintained that there is no indication of a national security threat, but legislation is currently being drawn up to respond to concerns over drones.
