Quadcopter drone found on White House grounds

A small drone was found on the grounds of the White House early Monday, the Secret Service confirmed. 

The Secret Service said late Monday that an unidentified man contacted the agency to report that he was flying the drone and lost control before it crashed on the White House lawn.

{mosads}”The individual has been interviewed by Secret Service agents and been fully cooperative,” an agency spokesman said in a statement. “Initial indications are that this incident occurred as a result of recreational use of the device.”

CBS’s Mark Knoller tweeted a photo of the drone that was provided by the Secret Service. 

From @SecretService – photo of the Quad Copter than crashed into the grounds of the WH early this morning. pic.twitter.com/IEUL7QuA4p

— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) January 26, 2015

An investigation is ongoing as agents conduct interviews, examine evidence and pursue other leads. 

“A device has been recovered by the Secret Service at the White House,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters traveling with the president in New Delhi, India, early Monday. That device did not pose “any sort of ongoing” threat to White House personnel, Earnest added. 

The Secret Service said the compound was locked down until the drone, measuring about two feet wide, was recovered.

The drone was identified as a quadcopter. Military and law enforcement agencies often use them for surveillance and reconnaissance missions, although they could theoretically deliver an improvised explosive device. The relatively cheap unmanned aerial vehicles are also often used by amateur model aircraft enthusiasts. 

President Obama is in India for an official visit. He will travel to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday to pay respects after the death of King Abdullah. First lady Michelle Obama accompanied the president on his trip to India, but their daughters remained in Washington.

— This report was updated at 3:03 a.m.