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In a letter to the heads of the FBI, FAA, Homeland Security, and Department of Defense, Blumenthal demanded answers about the drones, stating that leaders need more information because he believes they pose serious safety and national security concerns.
“The proliferation of reported drone activity in this region raises significant safety and security concerns for both commercial and private aviation, as well as national security,” Blumenthal wrote. “Incidents involving drones interfering with aircraft operations have increased, posing a substantial risk to passengers, crews, and others nearby.”
Blumenthal joins senators from both sides of the aisle in demanding a classified briefing from national intelligence agencies.
These drones — some as large as cars — have been seen across the Northeast in recent weeks. Initial sightings were reported in New Jersey earlier this month, sparking widespread concern.
They were first spotted outside the tri-state area on Friday, Dec. 13, when witnesses saw them hovering over Southern California, according to CBS.
Blumenthal said in an interview earlier this week that the drones should be “shot down, if necessary.”
“We should be conducting smart intelligence analysis and removing them from the skies, especially if they’re flying over airports or military bases,” the senator told Fox News. “They should be shot down, if necessary, because they’re flying over sensitive areas.”
Republican State Sen. Tony Hwang echoed that sentiment, saying the United States must be proactive in addressing these unknown objects.
“That requires full transparency, accountability, and honest public discussions to develop a resolution and plan to address this immediately,” Hwang said in a news release. “To ensure public safety and confidence, we need a threat assessment as soon as possible.”
However, the White House has downplayed potential threats, stating that the FBI has found “no known specific or credible threats related to these sightings,” according to ABC News.
A White House spokesperson told reporters they could not corroborate all the sightings.
In a joint statement, the FBI and Homeland Security said the sightings were of lawfully operated manned aircraft, none of which were spotted over restricted areas.
“To be clear, they have uncovered no malicious activity or intent at this stage,” the statement read, according to USA Today. “While there is no known malicious activity occurring in New Jersey, the reported sightings highlight the insufficiency of current authorities.”
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