The runways of Stewart Airport, located 60 miles north of New York City, were temporarily closed after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reported the discovery of a drone near the airport. This was reported by ABC, according to UNN.
Details
The closure lasted about an hour, but flights were not disrupted, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey reported.
New York Governor Kathy Gokul called the incident the latest in a series of similar incidents that have occurred in the state since mid-November. She expressed her displeasure and called on the federal government to take additional measures.
This has gone too far
The governor added that she has asked the New York State Intelligence Center to investigate the incidents. She also called on Congress to pass a law that would allow the FAA and local law enforcement to increase control over drones.
Transferring these powers to the local level is critical
According to ABC, similar incidents with drones are occurring in other regions of the United States, including New Jersey. Since mid-November, there have been several cases of drones near strategic facilities, including military bases.
The FBI reported that of the nearly 5,000 drone reports it has received from citizens, only about 100 have provided verifiable evidence for investigation. The Department of Homeland Security believes that many of the reports are of manned aircraft mistaken for drones.
Nevertheless, the FAA confirms that states such as New Jersey do record drone activity, which is a cause for concern.
The FAA has already imposed temporary restrictions on drone flights in strategically important areas, such as the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, military bases, and areas where large-scale events are taking place.
Recall
In Germany, unidentified drones have been reported flying over important industrial facilities in Germany in recent weeks, including the US Air Force Ramstein military base, the Rheinmetall arms company, and the BASF chemical concern.