December 16 – RICHMOND, Va. – With multiple drone sightings reported in Virginia, Governor Glenn Youngkin is asking state residents to report drone sightings to the Fusion Center of Virginia.
The Republican governor is also calling on the federal government to provide more information about widespread drone activity reported in several East Coast states in recent weeks.
Youngkin said there have now been multiple sightings of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), commonly known as drones, in and around the state of Virginia.
“The Commonwealth of Virginia is home to a significant number of national security and critical infrastructure locations that our nation depends on every day,” Youngkin said in a prepared statement. “I remain deeply concerned that Virginia has consistently sought information from federal partners, and to date the information shared with the Commonwealth has been insufficient.”
Youngkin did not specify which parts of Virginia the drones are being reported in. The Daily Telegraph has not received any reports of drone sightings in Southwest Virginia so far.
There have also been no reported sightings of drones or drone swarms in neighboring West Virginia.
In response to the drone sightings, Youngkin said the Virginia State Police Homeland Security Division and the Virginia Department of Emergency Management are closely coordinating the drone reports with Virginia’s Fusion Center, along with law enforcement officials and the first responder community.
“We will continue to work with numerous federal partners and release further information as it becomes known and available,” Youngkin said.
Youngkin said the general public can continue to assist the Commonwealth by reporting drone observations to the Virginia Fusion Center at VFC@vfc.vsp.virginia.gov or (877)4VA-TIPS.
The governor’s office said citizens should not attempt to interfere with UAVs by using personally owned drones or other aircraft or by attempting to capture the suspected drone/aircraft individually.
— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com. Follow him @BDTOwens
