Drone attack on PA substation was first one to target energy grid, according to Homeland Security

A modified commercial drone may have been responsible for an attempted attack on a Pennsylvania power substation last year, the first reported case of a drone assault on the U.S.'s energy infrastructure. Authorities believe a DJI Mavic 2 drone with a thick copper wire tethered to it was found in June 2020 was likely intended to disrupt operations'by creating a short circuit to cause damage to transformers or distribution lines,' according to a joint intelligence bulletin from the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and the National Counterterrorism Center released October 28. If the wire had come into contact with any of the power plant's high-voltage equipment it could have resulted in a short circuit, power failure or even a fire, according to New Scientist. The Drive reported the drone was recovered by authorities from a substation near Hershey, Pennsylvania, about 100 miles from Philadelphia. No groups has claimed responsibility: The device's camera and internal memory card had been removed and identifying labels were removed, in a likely attempt to obscure its origins.