Posted on 07/07/2021 6:42:13 PM PDT by Right Wing Vegan
TUCSON, AZ — Federal officials are investigating after a "highly modified drone” flew dangerously close to a Customs and Border Patrol helicopter in February.
The CBP helicopter was just minutes into its flight when the encounter with the drone began.
The flight path shows how the pilot maneuvered multiple times to avoid a possible collision. The drone was flying at speeds of up to 100 miles per hour and flying at altitudes well above 10,000 feet.
“There’s a lot of rules that are being broken here," says ABC15 Chief Engineer, Ryan Steward.
“If you are at or near 100 mph that’s okay, at that altitude that’s not okay being closed to a manned aircraft is not okay,” Steward said.
The FAA says the maximum altitude for flying a drone is 400 feet unless you are next to the building, a mountain, or some other large structure that requires you to fly above it.
A Tucson Police helicopter responded to the Border Patrol pilot’s call for assistance and followed the drone for more than an hour.
In a report, the Tucson police helicopter pilot said the drone maintained a 100 miles per hour speed even when it flew directly into a 40 mile per hour headwind.
The Tucson pilot also observed there were never any signs the drone was losing power.
The pilot said, “it was quite clear this was not like any other U.A.S. (unmanned aerial systems) that we have experienced.” The Tucson police helicopter pilot, running low on fuel, had to end his pursuit.
“It’s interesting someone is capable of all those things, but that makes you wonder what they’re doing with all those things,” Steward said. “What’s the end game with having something of that capability?”
It’s a question the FBI wants to know the answer to as well. It has launched a criminal investigation of the incident.
Should have tried to shoot it down.
Los Cartelistas can afford expensive toys
I’m sure the Mexican Drug Cartel that put it up there are just as worried about the FIB investigating them as they are about the FAA rules.
They’re not going to know the why and who about it until they shoot one of these things down. Just do it.
A drone that can make those speeds and that altitude while maneuvering is a rare beast. Plus it had to be controlled. This was not a backyard guy having fun, but an arial system designed and flown by someone with lots of money and knowledge.
I bet they have orders now and the next one goes down unless it takes them down first.
400 feet above you at 100 miles an hour?! Yeah right.
I’d really rather they not be popping missiles off over my city. That’s a stupid idea.
When are people going to learn, the air and space over our heads belongs to the government, or whoever controls the government.
That being said, foreign gov actors have infiltrated nearly every aspect of American society and government.
DM AFB, and it’s flight lines could easily be interrupted by stuff like this.
Police to the FBI: They were going 100 mph and could destroy an aircraft or kill a citizen. May be secretly controlled by Antifa, BLM , Dems or Communist China to subvert the USA.
FBI agent: Whew. Then they’re on our side. We were worried before.
With side arms, over a dense city environment?
It’s just a drone, for gosh sakes. What damage could it really do running into helicopter rotors at a mere 100-mph? s/ Besides, our borders are secure according to Jen Psaki.
AND, the FBI will solve this soon. They are the “gold standard” of law enforcement.
Using side arms, or at best, one M-4 on the CBP helo? At night, at a traget that was hard to see (didn’t show up on FLIR), over a dense city environment?
Don’t think that would be a smart move. . .
And none of the helo’s have missiles, to be clear.
We got an AFB right there. And an Army base with Apaches not too far. If somebody in charge were stupid enough missiles could come into play. Although frankly even just bullets is a bad idea. There’s a city down there. Millionish people. Best solution is to try to track the signal.
I want to know if it was a rotor driven object. Next one needs to be deplatformed
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.