The mysterious drone swarm invaded the US military base for 17 consecutive days in December last year. The US wants to find out the arrested Chinese students.

In a recent interview with officials, it was revealed that a fleet of mysterious drones flew over Langley Air Force Base in Virginia for 17 consecutive nights, raising alarm at the Pentagon. The incident began in December, and military authorities have been closely monitoring the situation, but due to legal constraints, they were unable to take action to intercept the drones. They are currently hoping that insights from a Chinese student arrested on January 18 could shed light on the incidents.

According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, after the drones breached restricted airspace, then-Commander of the Base, Air Force General Mark Kelly, led a team to observe them. He estimated that the leading drone measured approximately 20 feet in length, traveling at a speed of 100 miles per hour and at an altitude between 3,000 and 4,000 feet. Following drones trailed closely behind, creating a sound reminiscent of lawnmowers in the distance.

The drones eventually turned south and flew across Chesapeake Bay towards Norfolk, Virginia, with the flight path passing under the base of the Navy SEAL Team Six and the Naval Station Norfolk, the world’s largest naval base.

General Glen D. VanHerck, the then-commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), noted that this drone incursion was unlike any previous incursions. However, legal restrictions prevented the military from taking defensive measures against the drones unless there was an immediate threat to the military installation.

With up to a dozen drones involved, officials remain uncertain whether they belong to hobbyists or hostile entities, with speculation pointing towards potential involvement from Russia or China testing U.S. Air Force response protocols. Federal law prohibits military action against drones unless they pose an immediate threat, meaning mere aerial reconnaissance doesn’t qualify.

In response to the drone activities, the White House convened meetings involving the Department of Defense, the FBI, and experts to discuss potential strategies. General VanHerck recommended deploying fighter jets for closer observation of the drones and sought authorization for comprehensive measures, including electronic surveillance. However, the scope of the Pentagon’s authority on domestic matters is limited.

The last sighting of the drone fleet occurred on December 23, and the situation intensified when, on January 6, Fengyun Shi, a Chinese student from the University of Minnesota, was found operating a drone near the airbase. He admitted to local residents that he had attempted to launch his drone, which ended up stuck in a tree. Despite being warned about the poor weather for drone flying, he opted to leave the area instead of seeking help.

On January 18, Shi was arrested by the FBI as he intended to return to China. He claimed to be a boating enthusiast unaware of the drone entering restricted airspace. Investigators were skeptical of his explanation but lacked evidence linking him to the Chinese government. Prosecutors charged him with illegal photography of a secure naval facility. At 26 years old, he pleaded guilty and received a six-month sentence from federal court.