NY Officials Urge Calm Amid Reports Of Mysterious Drone Sightings

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — It appears that the large, mysterious drones that made headlines after being spotted in the skies above New Jersey, have now made incursions into the Hudson Valley, prompting officials to call for calm.

"We understand that these drone sightings may be unsettling and are taking these reports seriously," Rockland County Executive Ed Day said. "In addition to notifying federal authorities, I am writing a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to have the Federal Aviation administration (FAA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) investigate and provide answers as to who is behind these drone sightings."

According to Rockland County District Attorney Thomas E. Walsh II, there were at least four reports of drones spotted flying over Rockland County before crossing into New Jersey.

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Meanwhile, in Westchester County, sightings were reported in several locations, including Yonkers, Tuckahoe, Bronxville, Eastchester, Scarsdale, Pelham, and Mount Vernon.

"Many constituents have reached out to me about last night's drone sightings in the Northeast Yonkers and Bronxville areas," Westchester County Legislator James Nolan said in a statement on Friday. "These sightings raise concern about safety and privacy. I have been in contact with the Westchester County Police Department to ensure they are aware of the situation. If I find out more about the drones I will make sure to let constituents know. I am calling upon New York Governor Kathy Hochul to initiate a formal investigation on drones sightings throughout the State. This is a scary time for many constituents and the quicker we get answers the quicker we can quell fears."

It appears the governor is doing just that. Gov. Kathy Hochul has now launched an investigation into the New York sightings.

Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus urged anyone concerned by a drone, to report the sighting to federal officials.

"I along with Orange County Emergency Services- NY have been in constant communication with federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies regarding the drone activity occurring throughout the County," Neuhaus said. "The collaboration is ongoing, and we urge residents to refrain from calling 911."

Instead, Orange County Emergency Services suggests contacting state and federal tip lines.

• NY State Police: CrimeTip@Troopers.ny.gov
• FBI: https://tips.fbi.gov or call 1-800-Call-FBI (225-5324)

"FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) is the investigation's lead agency," Neuhaus said. "We will continue to work closely with JTTF to monitor the situation and provide updates as available."