Gov. Hochul Calls for Federal Intervention After Drones Shut Down Stewart Airfield in Orange County

Dec 14, 2024, 08:35 PM

New York Governor Kathy Hochul has called for federal intervention after drone activity forced the closure of runways at Stewart Airfield in Orange County for approximately one hour on Friday night. The incident, part of a series of mysterious drone sightings across New York and neighboring states, has raised concerns about public safety and critical infrastructure security. Hochul has urged Congress to pass legislation that would grant state law enforcement the authority to engage in counter-drone activities and has demanded that the Biden administration deploy additional federal law enforcement to New York to address the issue. Despite the White House's assertion that many sightings are likely of lawful manned aircraft, Hochul insists that the situation has escalated beyond acceptable limits, prompting her to seek stronger federal action and oversight.