Following a string of enigmatic drones that have disrupted the sky in recent weeks, including causing a temporary shutdown at an airport over the weekend, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has asked that a drone detection device be brought to New York and New Jersey.
Two days after several drone sightings near New York Stewart International Airport forced its closure, Schumer submitted the request to the Department of Homeland Security on Sunday. Because of its “360-degree technology,” which has a higher possibility of identifying drones than linear systems, he advocated for Robin Radar Systems.
Though many have been recorded over New Jersey, the mystery drones have been seen throughout the Northeast.
Despite the number of sightings, Schumer made it “remarkable” that “we have more questions than answers.”
“Some of the drones are small, some of the drones flight patterns are erratic,” Schumer stated. “Multiple drones flying together can confuse a traditional radar system, and that’s why, again, this new technology can really get us the answers that we need.”
New York Governor Kathy Hochul called for federal assistance after the airport was shut down on Friday, but she warned on Sunday that the drone detection system is insufficient.
Hochul wrote, “We need more, but I am grateful for the support.” “Congress must pass a law that will give us the power to deal directly with the drones.”
Hochul urged Congress to enact the Counter-UAS Authority Security, Safety, and Reauthorization Act, which would empower state and local law enforcement agencies to combat drone activity while bolstering the Federal Aviation Administration’s drone monitoring.
According to Schumer, only government authorities are currently legally permitted to detect drones. According to the top Senate leader, he will also be advocating for legislation that would expand state and local law enforcement’s ability to use software to identify these unmanned aerial vehicles.
It is very difficult to determine who is in charge of the drones because there is no mechanism in place for drone registration.
“No one thinks they’re from a foreign government, and no one thinks they’re doing harm right now by tracking the patterns,” Schumer stated. “But we certainly want to first get the answers to the questions, and then we’ll take further action.”
In an interview on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday morning, former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie said he saw drones flying over his own house. As false information filled the void, he chastised officials for not responding to inquiries about the strange trend.
He notably cited Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., who erroneously claimed that the drones were coming from an Iranian “mothership” off the East Coast in an interview with Fox News. The claim was rejected by the Department of Defense.
“You can’t have conspiracy theorists filling the space,” Christie stated. “But the Biden administration and state authorities have to be more vocal and let people know exactly what they re doing.”
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