The mystery thickens. Unidentified drones still disrupt the skies of the northeastern United States this weekend, prompting federal authorities to reaffirm that no criminal or foreign activity has been established, while President-elect Donald Trump invited himself into the controversy, suggesting that they be shot down.
“This goes too far”lamented Kathy Hochul, the Democratic governor of New York State, the fourth most populous in the United States (20 million inhabitants), emphasizing in a press release on Saturday that the runways of a small airport in the region had to close the previous evening for an hour due to the appearance of “new drones”. Contacted by AFP, the New York airport authority confirmed this brief closure, which had no consequences on flights.
For several weeks, residents of the New York and New Jersey region have been reporting drone flights in the sky, a phenomenon that is fueling concern, especially since local and national authorities have not provided a response on their origin. Videos of light devices flying in the sky have now invaded social networks and local elected officials are criticizing the Biden administration for its supposed inaction. Some elected officials, like Republican Representative in the House of Congress Chris Smith, have raised the threat of a foreign state like Russia or China, without any evidence to support it.
On Friday, the President-elect of the United States Donald Trump in turn invited himself into the controversy. “Mysterious drone sightings across the country. Can this really happen without our government knowing? I don't think so! The public needs to know this, and right away. Otherwise, shoot them!!! »he wrote in a message on his Truth Social network.
While criticizing national authorities for their lack of response, the sheriff of Monmouth County, New Jersey, called on the public not to shoot at drones. Representatives of the Federal Police (FBI), Homeland Security and the FAA (American aviation regulator) reiterated that no element, at this stage of their investigations, shows criminal activity or emanating from a foreign power.
An FAA representative recalled that it was not “not illegal to fly drones in US airspace”while that of the FBI estimated their number in the United States at “nearly a million registered, so there is no doubt that drones are flying over the state of New Jersey”. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said from the White House on Thursday that“many of the reported sightings are in fact of piloted aircraft operating legally”.
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