Mysterious Drones Disrupt Orange County Airport Runways, New York Governor Calls for Federal Assistance

Mysterious drones caused a temporary shutdown of runways at New York's Stewart International Airport, according to Governor Kathy Hochul, who emphasized the severity of the situation and urged for federal assistance. The runways were closed for approximately an hour on a Friday night due to reported drone activity in the airspace.

Drone Incident at Stewart International Airport

The Federal Aviation Administration notified the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey about the drone sighting at around 9:40 PM on Friday, leading to the temporary closure of the runways. Fortunately, the runways were reopened at 10:45 PM, and the incident did not disrupt any flights. However, the incident raised concerns about the presence of drones not only in New York but also in New Jersey and other states in the northeastern region of the United States.

Call for Action

In response to the incident the governor expressed frustration and emphasized the need for decisive action. She directed the New York State Intelligence Center to investigate the drone sightings and collaborate with federal law enforcement. Additionally, Hochul called on Congress to pass the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act. This legislation aims to reform legal authorities related to countering drones and enhance the FAA’s oversight of drones, while also extending counter-drone activities to select state and local law enforcement agencies.

Extending Powers

Governor Hochul stressed the importance of granting these powers to New York State and its neighboring regions. She urged the Biden Administration to intervene by deploying additional federal law enforcement to New York and the surrounding area to safeguard critical infrastructure and protect the local population until state and local officials are granted the necessary authorities.

Federal Response

The White House has stated that there is currently no evidence indicating that the reported drone sightings pose a national security or public safety threat, nor do they have any foreign connections. Officials have noted that the drones observed flying over New Jersey in recent weeks appear to be commercial-grade rather than recreational in nature.