
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
New Windsor NY, the skies over New York and New Jersey have become the stage for an unsettling mystery, with recent drone sightings causing disruptions and prompting officials to demand urgent federal assistance. The latest incident occurred Friday night at Stewart International Airport, about 60 miles north of New York City, where a drone sighting temporarily shut down runways for an hour.
A Growing Concern
New York Governor Kathy Hochul voiced her frustration in a statement Saturday, calling the drone sightings “unacceptable” and urging swift federal intervention. This latest incident adds to a string of drone activity reported since mid-November across central New Jersey and New York.
“This has gone too far,” Hochul stated, emphasizing the potential risks to critical infrastructure and public safety.
Federal and State Collaboration Needed
Hochul has tasked the New York State Intelligence Center with investigating these drone incidents. However, she stressed the need for federal action, specifically calling on Congress to pass the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, which would enhance FAA oversight and grant more authority to state and local law enforcement for addressing drone-related threats.
“Until those powers are granted,” Hochul added, “the Biden Administration must step in by deploying additional federal law enforcement resources to safeguard our region.”
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan, and several members of Congress have echoed these concerns, urging a comprehensive federal investigation.
Federal Investigation Updates
A coalition of federal agencies, including the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, is actively investigating. While nearly 5,000 tips have been submitted regarding the drone sightings, fewer than 100 have provided credible leads.
A DHS official suggested that many reports might be misidentifications of manned aircraft, while FAA representatives confirmed the presence of actual drones, citing nearly a million registered drones nationwide.
Military Implications
The sightings have raised alarms near military installations, including Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey. According to a Joint Chiefs of Staff official, security personnel at these sites have visually confirmed drones. However, they stated that the activity does not appear to be linked to foreign actors or malicious intent.
“We don’t know the purpose of this activity,” the official admitted. “But we share in the frustration over its irresponsible nature.”
Tightening Airspace Regulations
In response to these incidents, the FAA has imposed temporary flight restrictions over sensitive areas, including Picatinny Arsenal, Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, and during major events like Saturday’s Army-Navy Game in Maryland, which was attended by President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance.
The Path Forward
As drone sightings continue to cause concern, the demand for a cohesive national strategy grows louder. With leaders at both state and federal levels prioritizing safety, the mystery surrounding these aerial intrusions may soon have answers—or at least a clearer framework for prevention.
Stay tuned as this story develops, and let us know your thoughts on how drone activity should be regulated in the comments below.
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There is an air national guard base at Stewart. IF Biden had any BALLS he would allow the military to shoot them down… unlike the balloon disaster where he waited until they sent the sensitive data back to china first
That would be self-destructive.
We practically shipped our entire manufacturing base to China. We’ve been sending them technology for years and, in case you missed it, we also cooperate with them to develop bioweapons, and who knows what else. That’s a strange relationship to have with an “enemy.”
i though it was a big joke till now , this is getting serious