Wright-Patterson AFB: Drone incursion triggers airfield closure
On the morning of December 14, 2024, air traffic controllers observed unmanned aerial vehicles operating over restricted zones at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base. The devices flew past security forces while disabling their lighting systems, prompting officials to issue NOTAMs and close the airfield until leadership addressed the breach.
Background
During the early hours of December 14, 2024, personnel at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base detected unauthorized drone activity across multiple sensitive installations. Controllers tracked the objects hovering above the Hot Cargo Ramp, the southern portion of Runway 5L, the military ramp, and the eastern sector of the airfield. Security units on the ground reported that the operators deliberately extinguished lights while maneuvering closely past patrols.
The severity of this incursion compelled base authorities to implement immediate flight restrictions. They issued Notice to Airmen bulletins M1132/24 and M1133/24, broadcasting the closure via the Automatic Terminal Information Service. The airfield remained inaccessible until senior command convened that morning to assess the security violation.
This incident marked the beginning of a sustained series of unauthorized aerial intrusions targeting the installation throughout December 2024.