NYC Airport Shutdown: Mystery Drones Ground Stewart Airfield

<img src="https://media-cldnry.s-nbcnews.com/image/upload/t_focal-760x428,f_auto,q_auto:best/mpx/2704722219/2024_12/1734204718388_n_witt_brk_brock_nj_officials_241214_1920x1080-dhwma3.jpg" alt="Drone over airport">

Mysterious drone activity caused a temporary shutdown of runways at New York's Stewart International Airport on Friday night. Governor Kathy Hochul expressed frustration, stating that "this has gone too far" and called for federal assistance.

The airport closed its runways for approximately an hour due to drone sightings reported by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). While the closure didn't impact flights, it highlighted growing concerns about unauthorized drone activity.

Similar drone sightings have been reported across the Northeast, sparking debate and calls for action from lawmakers. Some have urged the military to shoot down the drones; however, experts warn that doing so is illegal and poses a safety risk.

Governor Hochul is actively investigating these incidents with the New York State Intelligence Center and federal law enforcement, and she is calling for the passage of the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act to allow state and local agencies to better address the issue. She also urged the Biden Administration to provide additional federal law enforcement support until the act is passed.

The White House maintains that there is no evidence the drones pose a national security or public safety threat. However, the continued disruption and the scale of the problem call for a strong response.