New Yorkers reported seeing strange drones flying over NYC in the past few weeks, driving residents into a frenzied panic and leaving lawmakers scratching their heads. Half a dozen people posted videos on X and reddit of drones flying over the Bronx in the last three days with comments ranging from wild conspiracy theories to dismissive jabs saying the flying objects are just planes.
Council Member Kristy Marmorato (D-13) encouraged residents in her northeast Bronx district to report drone sightings.
“AT this time, call 911 for emergencies and 311 for non-emergencies,” Marmorato said Saturday in a post on X. “Agencies are looking into these sightings and will provide public updates as obtained.”
Announcement regarding drone sightings pic.twitter.com/9Ae0HS4xxh
— Councilwoman Kristy Marmorato (@KristyMarmorato) December 14, 2024
NYC Mayor Eric Adams chimed in on X over the weekend, reassuring New Yorkers that there is no cause for alarm, yet.
“The NYPD reports that although they have received an increase in drone sightings over the past 48 hours, drone detections have actually remained steady over the past 30 days, suggesting that a significant portion of the reporting is attributed to manned aircraft or commercial hobby drone,” he posted on X. “We are actively investigating the matter in close collaboration with federal, state, and local partners in New York and New Jersey.”
But statewide officials like Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and Governor Kathy Hochul called on the federal government to give New York access to technology that can better detect drones flying over the five boroughs. Schumer said that he intended to get to the bottom of it at a press conference Sunday.
“If you see a drone in the air over your home you should not have to shake an eight ball to see what it is,” Schumer said in a press conference. “There ought to be better technology and there is. We need that technology here in New York ASAP.”
Meanwhile Gov. Kathy Hochul announced Sunday that a “state-of-the art-drone-detection system” would be deployed in New York State but called on the federal government to do more.
“We are grateful to the Biden Administration for their support, but ultimately we need further assistance from Congress,” Hochul said in a statement. “Passing the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act will give New York and our peers the authority and resources required to respond to circumstances like we face today.”
