Given the complexity of the operation and number of drones flying in coordination, authorities had ruled out the possibility that amateur drone pilots were behind the sightings.
A clue, however, arrived the following month when a Chinese student studying at the University of Minnesota was caught flying a drone near the Langley base on Jan. 6.
The student, Fengyun Shi, 26, had gotten his drone stuck in a tree, which he appeared to abandon when he flew to California the following day.
The drone fell from the tree the same day, finding its way to the FBI, who found the drone had photographed Navy ships docked at the base.
1 Comment
Given the complexity of the operation and number of drones flying in coordination, authorities had ruled out the possibility that amateur drone pilots were behind the sightings.
A clue, however, arrived the following month when a Chinese student studying at the University of Minnesota was caught flying a drone near the Langley base on Jan. 6.
The student, Fengyun Shi, 26, had gotten his drone stuck in a tree, which he appeared to abandon when he flew to California the following day.
The drone fell from the tree the same day, finding its way to the FBI, who found the drone had photographed Navy ships docked at the base.