NEW YORK (NewsNation) — The NYPD recently discovered an abandoned drone in Brooklyn amid a spate of sightings in the Tri-State Area. This one, however, has a known owner.
A photo obtained by The New York Post shows an officer holding up the 5-foot aircraft. The object, according to The Post, was found on Fifth Street between Market Street and Morris Avenue.
The drone turned out to be owned by Amogy Inc., a sustainable energy startup working to use ammonia as a renewable fuel source for, among other things, drones.
A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over New Jersey and across the eastern U.S., sparking speculation and concern over where they came from and why they’re being seen in such numbers.
The FBI, the Homeland Security Department and state agencies have been investigating, but officials say there has been nothing so far to suggest that any drones have posed a national security or public safety threat. In fact, authorities say, many of the drone sightings have actually been legal drones, manned aircraft, helicopters and even stars.
President Joe Biden said Tuesday night that there appears to be nothing nefarious about the flying objects.
“There are a lot of drones authorized. We are following this closely. So far, no sense of danger,” the president said as he left the White House for a trip to Delaware.
Despite federal officials’ comments, many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly unmanned aircraft — and for authority to shoot them out of the sky.