Gov. Hochul announces federal drone detection system for NY

NEW JERSEY - New York Gov. Kathy Hochul announced on Sunday that the federal government is deploying a drone detection system to the state to aid in investigations into recent drone sightings.

"In response to my calls for additional resources, our federal partners are deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State. This system will support state and federal law enforcement in their investigations," Hochul said in a statement.

The news comes as officials in New York and New Jersey are urging the federal government to take stronger action to investigate the drone sightings that have alarmed local residents.

FOX 5 NY's Jessica Formoso spoke with a man who said he spotted a drone.

"I'm freaked out," Nelson Ceron said after he spotted a drone. "Once you see some car-sized vehicle in the sky, you wonder what's going on."

Ceron said around 5 p.m. on Thursday in West Long Branch, he was driving home from work and looked up.

"I watched them hover in circles for about 15-20 minutes, then they go out to the ocean and vanish into the clouds," Ceron said. 

Now the feds are working to quash worries as the rash of mysterious drone sightings has those in the tri-state demanding answers about where the objects are coming from. 

FBI officials are saying out of the 5,000 reported sightings, less than 100 are credible, saying in most situations, the sightings are a case of mistaken identity.

"For weeks we have asked for the truth and action to mitigate all threats to people and property. Now we are demanding it," New Jersey congressman Chris Smith said. 

The drones have also been spotted in coastal areas. The Ocean County Sheriff's Department has been using its drones to investigate. 

JUMP TO NJ DRONES | DRONES SPOTTED IN NYC | ARE DRONES DANGEROUS? | WHO SENT THE DRONES? | ARE DRONES ALLOWED IN NJ? 

Sheriff Mike Mastronardy says a Coast Guard commanding officer saw a dozen drones near Island Beach State Park.

"She was on duty at the time, and she reports she saw 50 drones coming from the ocean to the mainland and transversing the airways over Island Beach State Park and coming to the seaside area," Mastronardy said. 

Congressman Smith has now drafted legislation that would give local sheriffs and state police the authority to step in and potentially bring down drones.

What's the deal with the drones in New Jersey?

Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing them in the state starting in November.

At first they were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, which feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, the state's largest aquifer, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of New York City.

But soon sightings were reported statewide, including near the Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility, and over President-elect Donald Trump’s golf course in Bedminster.

The aircraft have also recently been spotted in coastal areas.

Drones have been spotted over New York City

Drone sightings have now been reported in New York, where a permit is required, and Mayor Eric Adams said the city was investigating and collaborating with New Jersey and federal officials.

The runways at Stewart International Airport — about 60 miles (100 kilometers) north of the city — were shut down for about one hour Friday night because of drone activity in the airspace, Gov. Kathy Hochul said.

"This has gone too far," she said in a statement.

The governor called on Congress to strengthen the FAA’s oversight of drones and give more investigative authority to state and local law enforcement.

"Extending these powers to New York State and our peers is essential," she said. "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."

Are these drones dangerous?

The White House has said that a review of the reported sightings shows that many of them are actually manned aircraft being flown lawfully, echoing the opinion of officials and drone experts.

The federal Homeland Security Department and FBI also said in a joint statement they have no evidence that the sightings pose "a national security or public safety threat or have a foreign nexus."

Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security, said the reported drones have been up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes travel with their lights switched off. This is much larger than those typically flown by drone hobbyists, and she said they appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio.

Who sent the drones?

Authorities say they do not know.

The FBI, Homeland Security and state police are investigating the sightings. Authorities say they don’t know if it is one drone that has been spotted many times or if there are multiple aircraft being flown in a coordinated effort.

Speculation has raged online, with some expressing concerns that the drone or drones could be part of a nefarious plot by foreign agents.

Officials stress that ongoing state and federal investigations have found no evidence to support those concerns, but Rep. Smith on Saturday echoed such speculation.

"The elusive maneuvering of these drones suggests a major military power sophistication that begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities — or worse — by violent dictatorships, perhaps maybe Russia, or China, or Iran, or North Korea," he said.

Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the aircraft are not U.S. military drones.

Are drones allowed in New Jersey?

The flying of drones for recreational and commercial use is legal in the state, but it is subject to local and Federal Aviation Administration regulations and flight restrictions.

In New York City, a permit is required to take off or land an unmanned aircraft.

Operators must be FAA-certified.