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Drone crashes at White House; hobbyist says it's his
WASHINGTON (AP) — A two-foot-long (half-meter) drone apparently flown by a hobbyist crashed on the White House grounds Monday in an extraordinary, if unintended, breach that raised fresh questions about the president's security — and a growing threat from the sky.
Small drone crashes on White House grounds, operator comes forward Reuters
Shakeup at Secret Service; 4 executives reassigned Associated Press
A man later came forward to say he was responsible for the mishap in the middle of the night and hadn't meant to fly the drone over the complex, officials said. "Initial indications are that this incident occurred as a result of recreational use of the device," said Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary.
President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were overseas when the quadcopter struck the southeast side of the grounds at about 3 a.m. Daughters Sasha and Malia stayed behind in Washington; it was not known whether they were at the mansion.
Officials believed the intrusion to be the first of its kind on the White House grounds, although not the first in the vicinity.
Low-flying drones like the quadcopter — a device lifted by four propellers — have become increasingly sophisticated and affordable instruments that authorities worry could also become tools for terrorists or others meaning to do harm.
It was not immediately clear that the Secret Service could have done anything to prevent Monday's incident. Yet the episode joins a string of recent security breaches at the White House that have fueled questions about the agency's effectiveness and ability to protect the president.
Members of the Secret Service search the grounds of the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, …
Four high-ranking executives were reassigned this month, and former Director Julia Pierson was forced to resign last year after a Texas man armed with a knife was able to get over a White House fence and run into the executive mansion before being subdued.
An independent panel that investigated the agency's leadership and practices after that September incident, and the disclosure of a previously unreported security breach, recommended hiring a new director from outside.
That report was the second critical review of the agency responsible for protecting the president. In November, the Homeland Security Department, which oversees the Secret Service, released an internal investigation about the fence-scaling incident that found poor training and staffing and a series of missteps led to the breach.
Police, fire and other emergency vehicles swarmed the White House just after the crash, with several clustered near the southeast entrance to the grounds. The White House was dark and the entire perimeter was on lockdown until around 5 a.m. when those who work there were allowed inside.
The breach was bound to reinvigorate a long-running public debate about the use of commercial drones in U.S. skies — as well concerns about White House security. At the urging of the drone industry, the Obama administration is on the verge of proposing rules for drone operations that would replace an existing ban on most commercial flights.
__http://news.yahoo.com/device-possibly-aerial-drone-found-white-house-grounds-132828253.html_
Small drone crashes on White House grounds, operator comes forward Reuters
Shakeup at Secret Service; 4 executives reassigned Associated Press
A man later came forward to say he was responsible for the mishap in the middle of the night and hadn't meant to fly the drone over the complex, officials said. "Initial indications are that this incident occurred as a result of recreational use of the device," said Secret Service spokesman Brian Leary.
President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, were overseas when the quadcopter struck the southeast side of the grounds at about 3 a.m. Daughters Sasha and Malia stayed behind in Washington; it was not known whether they were at the mansion.
Officials believed the intrusion to be the first of its kind on the White House grounds, although not the first in the vicinity.
Low-flying drones like the quadcopter — a device lifted by four propellers — have become increasingly sophisticated and affordable instruments that authorities worry could also become tools for terrorists or others meaning to do harm.
It was not immediately clear that the Secret Service could have done anything to prevent Monday's incident. Yet the episode joins a string of recent security breaches at the White House that have fueled questions about the agency's effectiveness and ability to protect the president.
Members of the Secret Service search the grounds of the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, …
Four high-ranking executives were reassigned this month, and former Director Julia Pierson was forced to resign last year after a Texas man armed with a knife was able to get over a White House fence and run into the executive mansion before being subdued.
An independent panel that investigated the agency's leadership and practices after that September incident, and the disclosure of a previously unreported security breach, recommended hiring a new director from outside.
That report was the second critical review of the agency responsible for protecting the president. In November, the Homeland Security Department, which oversees the Secret Service, released an internal investigation about the fence-scaling incident that found poor training and staffing and a series of missteps led to the breach.
Police, fire and other emergency vehicles swarmed the White House just after the crash, with several clustered near the southeast entrance to the grounds. The White House was dark and the entire perimeter was on lockdown until around 5 a.m. when those who work there were allowed inside.
The breach was bound to reinvigorate a long-running public debate about the use of commercial drones in U.S. skies — as well concerns about White House security. At the urging of the drone industry, the Obama administration is on the verge of proposing rules for drone operations that would replace an existing ban on most commercial flights.
__http://news.yahoo.com/device-possibly-aerial-drone-found-white-house-grounds-132828253.html_
I had to look this up. It used to be called the National Imagery and Mapping Agency and is located in Springfield VA about 25 miles from the DC line. I bet this guy is in trouble...or they needed someone to blame. How does it go from someone playing with a drone to testing it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Geospatial-Intelligence_Agency
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Geospatial-Intelligence_Agency
There have been an awful lot of 'security' issues during this administration. I'm not blaming the President on this, mind you. What in the world is going on?
Wow - I'm with Brice, who knew we even had a National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and to take it a few steps further, why was the dude testing his drone, near the White House, in bad weather, when he was 3 sheets to the wind? I know... "Hold my beer"... lol Good one, dsert...
Seriously, I think this does open up a whole new security problem as far as the President is concerned and I doubt it will be lost on terrorists or others intent on doing harm. What will they have to do? Put a bomb proof bubble around the White House?
While the President and Mrs Obama were not in the country, it's possible their daughters may have been in the White House...
Seriously, I think this does open up a whole new security problem as far as the President is concerned and I doubt it will be lost on terrorists or others intent on doing harm. What will they have to do? Put a bomb proof bubble around the White House?
While the President and Mrs Obama were not in the country, it's possible their daughters may have been in the White House...
Yes, anything that starts off with "Hold My Beer", is destined to be good entertainment.
That's rich.... Good grief.... and who knew there was a National Geospatial Intelligence Agency? Seems like there are a lot of entities that do what they do... all though it might be construed at "profiling",
"Maybe if he were drunk and thought it would be a good idea. "
Good call.
"http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/officials-say-drinking-played-role-white-house-drone-crash-n294741
"The government employee suspected of crashing a drone on the White House grounds Monday has told investigators he had been drinking before he lost control of the device, a source familiar with the incident confirmed to NBC News.
Law enforcement officials say an employee of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency turned himself in after losing track of the drone while testing it in bad weather. He said he did not realize the unmanned aerial device landed at the White House until he saw news reports the next morning.
The New York Times first reported that the man had been drinking at a nearby apartment and went to sleep early Monday fearing the drone may have landed inside the White House gates."
This opens up a whole new world of famous last words starting with the famous, "Hold my beer."
Good call.
"http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/white-house/officials-say-drinking-played-role-white-house-drone-crash-n294741
"The government employee suspected of crashing a drone on the White House grounds Monday has told investigators he had been drinking before he lost control of the device, a source familiar with the incident confirmed to NBC News.
Law enforcement officials say an employee of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency turned himself in after losing track of the drone while testing it in bad weather. He said he did not realize the unmanned aerial device landed at the White House until he saw news reports the next morning.
The New York Times first reported that the man had been drinking at a nearby apartment and went to sleep early Monday fearing the drone may have landed inside the White House gates."
This opens up a whole new world of famous last words starting with the famous, "Hold my beer."
The baddies are already using them for smuggling.
http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-meth-drone-20150121-story.html
Time to dust off some of Ronnie Raygun's SDI (Star Wars) laser defense tech that he left in the basement.
http://www.latimes.com/world/mexico-americas/la-fg-mexico-meth-drone-20150121-story.html
Time to dust off some of Ronnie Raygun's SDI (Star Wars) laser defense tech that he left in the basement.
Pack on up with some C4, land it on the room and watch the fireworks. Scary that our President can be in that much danger.
I wonder if we will ever get whole story but I’m not buy that a Hobbyist was flying a drone near the White House and accidentally flew it over The White House Grounds at 3am.
Maybe if he were drunk and thought it would be a good idea.
Even if the story is true, Terrorist now knows how easy Drones can be used.
Maybe if he were drunk and thought it would be a good idea.
Even if the story is true, Terrorist now knows how easy Drones can be used.
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