What if a foreign enemy or terrorist organization launched a drone attack from Seattle’s waterfront towards the neighboring stadiums or SeaTac airport?
It is a sobering question that Washington state’s top military leader and emergency management official is now thinking about daily.
I’m concerned that we face another 9/11-style attack with the proliferation of attack drones these days. They’re everywhere,” said Major General Gent Welsh during an interview at his office on Tuesday at Camp Murray. “I’m just worried that it’s just a matter of time. It’s really kind of a when, not if, situation that the United States deals with a widespread weaponized attack drone situation.
Welsh wears multiple high-ranking hats for the state of Washington as the Adjutant General. He is the commanding general of the Washington Army and Air National Guard forces and oversees the state’s emergency management and enhanced 911 programs. He is also the Homeland Security Advisor to the Governor of Washington. He said recent events, combined with Seattle’s planned hosting of the 2026 World Cup, have raised his concerns.
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I think you’re seeing a preview of coming attractions you’ve seen over just the last three years of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict,” says Welsh, noting the recent surprise attack by Ukraine deep inside Russia that involved drones strategically launched near military bases. “The truck opens up, drones fly in, and then go attack the nearest Russian air base. If you picture that scenario playing out in the United States, picture the Port of Seattle, a lot of container traffic going in and out of the port. What would happen one day if one of those containers were to open up similarly, drones fly up and either attack folks in the nearby stadiums at a game, or, even worse, go up and over the hill and go to SeaTac?
In a draft report, being finalized this month, the State’s Emergency Management office is set to issue new guidance on drone activity to local and state jurisdictions, while also noting.