Drone that crashed at White House was a quadrocopter | TIME

A drone that crashed on the White House grounds Monday, causing a brief lockdown, was a two-foot wide remote-controlled quadcopter that is sold in stores, officials said.

According to a Secret Service spokesman, a uniformed division officer stationed on the South Grounds of the complex “heard and observed” the device flying at a low altitude, before it crashed on the southeast side of the 18-acre secure zone around the executive mansion. The incident triggered a lockdown of the White House and nearby buildings, as officials scrambled to study the device and ensure it did not pose a threat.

“An investigation is underway to determine the origin of this commercially available device, motive, and to identify suspects,” the official said.

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Hallie Siegel robotics editor-at-large

Hallie Siegel robotics editor-at-large