HV leaders scold federal government, demand more attention on mystery drones in Orange County
"We don't have the right tech, our internal processes are a mess, and I'm not even sure the right departments are in charge," Rep. Pat Ryan said. "Let's take the time now to get this right."
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Several top Hudson Valley officials are calling out the federal government for its handling of the drone sightings over Orange County.
They are demanding the FBI and other agencies come clean with their information, start moving on an investigation into the sudden spike of suspicious sightings.
In a letter, District 18 congressman and former military intelligence officer Pat Ryan said the FBI, Department of Defense, Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Aviation Administration must 1) release any unclassified information about the drone activity over the county, and 2) overhaul policies on drone usage.
"We don't have the right tech, our internal processes are a mess, and I'm not even sure the right departments are in charge," Ryan wrote. "Let's take the time now to get this right."
"It could be a distraction," said Romaine Bird, of New Windsor, where many of the sightings have been reported. "I don't know. You really never know out there, you know? I want to know."
"How are all those planes then in the same spot conveniently like that?," Bird's colleague Johnathan Franceschi. "Let's see what they come up with, and if they'll tell us the truth."
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus said Tuesday that police and military drone teams are conducting surveillance of any suspicious drones every night this week.
"I think it's important to come up with an explanation if we can," professional drone operator Keith Perry said.
Perry, owner of Hudson Valley Drones, said in a Zoom interview Wednesday that much of the video he has seen online seems to show regular drones and/or manned aircrafts.
He agrees for several reasons, though, that top federal agencies need to move.
"It's a little extreme to be rushing to judgement sometimes," Perry said, "but at the same time, we should have a *inaudible* of suspicion. National security is important. Public perception is important. Safety is important."
Westchester County Executive George Latimer, who is headed to Congress, also requested more federal resources in a letter to President Joe Biden Tuesday.
Latimer wrote that his residents are worried about the government's ability to identify drones, clearly inform the public and debunk conspiracy theories.
The national security component is especially troubling to Rep. Ryan.
Ryan said, at Stewart Air Guard Base this past weekend, unidentified drones came as close as 25 feet to a C-17 military plane valued at $350 million.
