New York Governor Kathy Hochul has called on the Biden administration to take action against mysterious drone sightings that have disrupted air traffic in New York.
The most recent incident occurred at Stewart International Airport, where drones shut down runways for approximately an hour. Hochul stated, “Last night, the runways at Stewart Airfield were shut down for approximately one hour due to drone activity in the airspace. This has gone too far.”
Although the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have not identified the drone sightings as a national security threat, Hochul emphasized that the situation required urgent attention.
“In mid-November, I directed the New York State Intelligence Center to actively investigate drone sightings and coordinate with federal law enforcement to address this issue, and those efforts are ongoing,” she said. She also called on Congress to pass the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, which would expand counter-drone powers to state and local law enforcement.
Hochul highlighted the growing concerns, noting that drone sightings had been reported across New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. “Until those powers are granted to state and local officials, the Biden Administration must step in by directing additional federal law enforcement to New York and the surrounding region to ensure the safety of our critical infrastructure and our people,” she added.
The growing drone activity has raised alarms, with one officer reporting over 50 drones off the coast of New Jersey. Sheriff Michael Mastronardy described the sighting, saying, “We contacted state police. We contacted the FBI. We contacted the Coast Guard, at which point the Coast Guard went out with their boat and they reported seeing 13 (drones) following their boat.” The drones were described as having a wingspan of about eight feet.
President-elect Donald Trump also weighed in, suggesting that the drones should be shot down if their purpose remains unclear.