Mysterious drone sightings in the eastern US have unleashed conspiracy theories and panic for weeks. But efforts by White House officials to downplay concern as reports of sightings spread are only fanning scepticism, including from President-elect Donald Trump.
A sighting on Friday night forced the closing of New York Stewart International Airport’s runways in Orange County, for more than an hour starting at 9.40pm., according to a statement by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which runs the airport. The sighting was reported by the Federal Aviation Administration, according to the statement. No other details were immediately available.
"This has gone too far,” New York Governor Kathy Hochul said in a statement about the airport’s closure.
Trump weighed in on Friday in a post on Truth Social: "Mystery Drone sightings all over the Country. Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge. I don’t think so! Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down!!!”
The recent spate of sightings began in New Jersey, where drones have been seen hovering above critical infrastructure such as water reservoirs, electric transmission lines, rail stations, police departments and military installations, Florham Park Chief of Police, Joseph Orlando, said in a Facebook post. Drones have even been spotted flying above Salem and Hope Creek Nuclear Generating Stations, prompting PSEG to contact the authorities, according to the company.
New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has contacted President Joe Biden as well as Senator Chuck Schumer and House Speaker Mike Johnson, urging federal legislation empowering the state’s local law enforcement to use advanced detection and mitigation technologies to deal with the drones. State officials didn’t specify exactly what what those measures are.
Hochul, in her statement on Saturday, also called on Congress to pass a bill strengthening the FAA’s oversight of drones, which would extend to some state and local authorities.
"It is clear that this is not a job the federal government can do on its own,” he wrote.
White House, Pentagon and other national security officials have rebuffed claims that the drones pose a security risk or are from a foreign entity, saying that many of the reports are legally operated manned aircraft. But the sightings are spreading geographically, with residents and legislators reporting unknown objects in neighboring states.
Multi-state sightings
Hochul and New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Friday that they’ve received reports from residents about drone sightings, including in all five of the city’s boroughs. They’re working with federal and New Jersey partners to investigate, Adams wrote in a post on X.
"Last night, beginning at around 9.45pm, I personally witnessed (and videoed) what appeared to be dozens of large drones in the sky above my residence in Davidsonville, Maryland (25 miles from our nation’s capital),” former Maryland Governor Larry Hogan wrote in a post on X.
He said the drones hovered above his house for almost a full hour and said the response from the federal government "is entirely unacceptable.” Maryland Congressman Andy Harris also said he has been made aware of reports of drone sightings in his district, according to a post on X.
Staten Island Borough President Vito John Fossella called on the New York City Police Department to investigate the sightings after several witnesses came forward about drones near the Goethals Bridge and other parts of the borough.
"Figure out what these things are and help at least alleviate some of the frustration, anxiety, that many people share,” he said at a press conference. "This is 2024. They’re either lying, or they’re incompetent, or they’re both.”
Pennsylvania state Senator Rosemary Brown, wrote a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration on Thursday calling for "immediate action” after people began reporting the drones throughout the state. She expressed disappointment with the federal government’s response.
Conspiracy theories about the origin of the drones have come from both sides of the political aisle. The concern recalls last year’s Chinese spy balloon incident: Outcry from Republicans and Democrats across the US forced led to the postponement of the first high-level visit to China in several years.
"Justifiably, the American people have lost trust in our federal government to adequately respond to these crises,” Brown wrote in the letter to FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker.
Max Falvey said he was driving home on the New Jersey Turnpike when he spotted drones, flying low, moving slowly and making a low hum. He is trying to trust that the federal government will provide more clarity.
"I drive past Newark airport almost every day and I’ve never seen anything like that before, it’s creepy,” said Falvey, 28. "I am trying to have hope that they know something and they’re not telling us. But there’s such an abundance of them, and if they don’t raise their hand and say it’s theirs, then that’s unsettling.” – Bloomberg