'Multiple Accounts' Of Drones Near Gabreski Spark Enhanced Security

WESTHAMPTON BEACH, NY— After "multiple accounts of drones" flying near Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach, Suffolk County officials said they are taking action.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine are slated to join other law enforcement and Federal Aviation Administration representatives for a press event, where officials will address security and safety concerns sparked by "recent unauthorized drone activity" near the airport.

In addition to posing an extreme safety risk to airport operations, the airspace is under FAA regulations and the unauthorized use of drones can result in criminal charges, officials said.

Toulon and officials will outline the serious dangers posed by flying drones in restricted areas, the civil and criminal penalties for violations, and new security technologies being deployed to detect and deter such activity, officials said.

Over the past few weeks, mystery drones have been reported across Long Island in both Nassau and Suffolk Counties, including near Brookhaven Laboratory, and on the North Fork, as well in other areas of New York State and beyond.

Gov. Kathy Hochul said that in response to her calls for additional resources, the federal government has deployed a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York.

The runways at Stewart International Airport were shut down for about one hour recently because of drone activity in the airspace, Hochul said.