Man Tells Police Drone Crash At White House Was Accidental
WASHINGTON (WJZ)—Emergency response at the White House this morning as Secret Service went into reaction mode once a unmanned drone crashed into the presidential mansion.
The man responsible has come forward, Marcus Washington has more on the investigation.
Shortly after 3:00 a.m. Monday, flood lights on the White House lawn lit up after a two-foot drone, or "quadcopter," crashed into the southeast side of president's residence.
Since the incident, a man has come forward and questioned by the Secret Service. He says he was using the drone for recreation and did not intend to fly over on into the White House.
"Early indications are that it does not pose any sort of a ongoing threat right now to anyone at the White House," said Press Secretary Josh Earnest.
The most recent incident here at the White House and previous security breaches have raised many concerns about the Secret Service's effectiveness.
Jimmy Coan has been studying the threat drones could pose for the New York City Police Department.
"Our concern is that somebody could take an explosive or a substance and put it in that payload and deliver that into an area," said Coan.
The FAA does prohibit flying a drone over the White House and if caught doing so--could carry a year in jail, and/or fine.
Both the president and the first lady were in India at the time of the incident, but it's unclear if their children and grandmother were inside the residence at the time.
The White House does have aerial defenses, but it's unclear it they can detect anything as small as a drone.