In Maryland, bright lights from drone-like objects lighting up the night sky have been spotted, prompting lawmakers, federal agencies and even a former governor to seek answers.
“I am aware of reports of numerous apparent drone sightings over the Delmarva Peninsula and in Salisbury, Maryland, in my district,” Republican Congressman Andy Harris of Maryland told The Baltimore Sun on Saturday. “We need transparency from the White House now to find out whether these drones pose a threat to our national security, and if so, we must take the appropriate corrective action immediately.”
This increased activity first made national headlines in New Jersey, and now widespread questions have arisen about the origins of the drones, which have also been spotted in Pennsylvania and New York.
Federal officials have not ruled out that some of the objects could be planes or helicopters. However, the drones do not appear to pose a threat to national security for the time being.
“We have no evidence at this time that the reported drone sightings pose a threat to national security or public safety, or are foreign-related,” the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said in a joint statement. “The FBI, DHS and our federal partners, in close coordination with the New Jersey State Police, continue to deploy personnel and technology to investigate this situation and confirm whether the reported drone flights are in fact drones or instead manned aircraft or otherwise inaccurate are observations. ”
Precautions are being taken.
On Saturday, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Maryland announced a temporary flight restriction for the annual Army-Navy game at Northwest Stadium in Landover. The area was considered a ‘no drone zone’ for a radius of two nautical miles around the stadium and up to 600 meters above ground level.
Former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan raised concerns about drone activity on social media after claiming he saw an object in the sky near his home in Davidsonville on Thursday around 9:45 p.m. He sees this phenomenon as a growing problem in Maryland and across the US
“Like many who have observed these drones, I am unsure whether this increased activity over our airspace poses a threat to public safety or national security,” Hogan wrote on the total lack of transparency and the dismissive attitude of the federal government. The government has the ability to track these from the point of origin, but has responded negligently. People are rightly crying out for answers, but they are not getting them.”
Other drone sightings have been reported in the Woodberry neighborhood of Baltimore and Prince Frederick in Calvert County.
The drone activity is also a concern among industry experts.
Eric Brown, founder and CEO of Imperio Consulting, spent 24 years in the Special Forces as a Green Beret and has seen first-hand the evolution of drone technology. When drones appear in areas where they shouldn’t, especially near critical infrastructure, it’s a signal that someone is gathering information or testing boundaries. According to Brown, this would obviously be a concern for any government agency charged with ensuring public safety and national security.
“The potential risks depend on how the drones are used. In combat, drones were essential for gathering intelligence and ensuring mission success, but that same technology could be used to monitor sensitive locations,” Brown told The Baltimore Sun. “Drones can also deliver payloads, as we have used them on certain missions to transport ammunition. While such use requires precision and authorization in military contexts, the potential for misuse in civilian settings – accidental or intentional – is significant.”
Yashin Manraj, CEO of Pvotal Technologies, said the increase in national interest and curiosity has attracted many copycats who are now flying their FAA-compliant drones to “troll” the media. The most effective way would be to identify the drone handlers and punish them in a public setting to educate and quell fears associated with this activity, he said.
“We hope that lawmakers will take a nuanced approach and balance the hysteria with a concerted effort to enable U.S. technological hegemony to expand into drones, rather than letting other countries lead the way while we continue our growth and restrict progress for political reasons,” Manraj said.
Melissa Swisher, Chief Revenue Officer at SkySafe, said increasing drone activity is a serious concern for both local and federal governments due to increasing risks to public safety and critical infrastructure. Unauthorized drones can disrupt operations at airports, power plants, water treatment plants and even military bases.
These incidents not only endanger lives, but can also lead to significant economic and operational disruptions. Governments are under pressure to tackle these threats while managing the growing adoption of drones in legitimate industries, she said.
“The dangers of drones are broad. Unauthorized drones can be used for espionage and weaponized to damage power grids, disrupt airspace, endanger aircraft, endanger public events, smuggle contraband into secure facilities and deliver harmful payloads,” he said. Swisher to The Baltimore Sun. “They also pose a surveillance risk, potentially violating individual privacy and compromising sensitive operations or infrastructure.”
Hogan has demanded answers.
The mystery of these objects causes unrest among the residents.
“We are told that neither the White House, the military, the FBI, nor Homeland Security have any idea what they are, where they came from, or who launched or controls them — and that they pose no threat,” Hogan said . wrote on X. “That response is completely unacceptable. I join the growing bipartisan chorus of leaders demanding that the federal government immediately address this issue. The American people deserve answers and action now.”
Do you have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.
