Drone activity has spread from New Jersey into New York, prompting renewed concerns and criticisms of the Biden administration’s handling of the situation.
On Thursday, ABC 7 News New York reported that Stewart International Airport in Orange County, roughly 60 miles north of New York City, experienced a shutdown Friday night due to drone activity. According to airport officials, runways were closed around 9:30 p.m. after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) alerted them to a drone sighting in the vicinity. Pilots in the area also reported spotting drones, as confirmed by air traffic control recordings. The closure lasted just over an hour before the FAA issued the all-clear, with no flights reportedly impacted.
However, embattled New York Governor Kathy Hochul was quick to criticize the Biden administration for its lack of action on the escalating issue. In a statement, Hochul remarked, “This has gone too far,” calling for federal intervention and legislative action. She urged Congress to pass the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, which would expand FAA oversight of drones, reform authorities to counter unauthorized activities, and empower state and local law enforcement to investigate and act against such incidents.
Hochul also demanded immediate action from the White House, stating:
“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.”
The drone activity at Stewart International mirrors concerns previously raised in New Jersey, where multiple sightings occurred across at least 12 counties. Reports from military facilities such as Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle confirmed unauthorized drone activity, despite the Biden administration’s repeated downplaying of the issue. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby dismissed over 3,000 reports of “car-sized drones” as misidentified helicopters or airplanes, a stance contradicted by local military officials and other credible sources.
The ongoing refusal by the federal government to acknowledge or address the drone incursions has fueled speculation over their origin, with some suggesting potential foreign involvement. Despite the growing urgency, sightings have continued over critical infrastructure, including military bases, raising concerns about national security and the administration’s lack of transparency.
As tensions escalate, calls for decisive action from the federal government grow louder.
