A mysterious drone has been spotted over Staten Island, and local politicians are demanding answers from the federal government.
Staten Islanders reported seeing a drone with a bright light over the island on Thursday. Staten Island Advance Report.
One such sighting was made by retired Air Force sergeant Walter Ziegler of New Springville, who observed the drone through binoculars from his apartment window, the Advance reported.
He describes them as having “a white light in the center and a red light on each side.”
Zeigler estimated there were five to six objects and about 15 feet long.
All sightings occurred not far from Goethals Bridge, near the island's border with New Jersey, where drones of unknown origin have been seen since at least November 18.
Now, Staten Island politicians are looking for answers and restrictions on flights over the borough.
Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis issued a statement calling on federal authorities to identify the source of the drone.
“Following reports of an unidentified flying object, believed to be a drone, flying over Staten Island, I am calling for immediate clarification from the Department of Homeland Security and federal agencies, and asking the Federal Aviation Administration to stop drone flights in the area. “Investigative authorities requested temporary restrictions,'' House member said. wrote in a statement.
Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella is also calling on the federal government to identify these flying objects.
“We recently learned that large military drones have been flying over parts of New Jersey over the past few weeks,” Fossella said in the letter, according to the Staten Island Advance. These drones have also been flying over Staten Island for the past several days, drawing the attention of concerned residents and the media.
“It is strange and very strange that no one can understand who is flying these drones, where they come from and what their purpose is. Some drones are flying without active transponders. “There are reports that this is a possible possibility, further raising concerns about the whereabouts of the drone,” the Staten Island borough president added.
The drone phenomenon caused the diversion of a medical helicopter flying in an accident in Somerset County, New Jersey, on Tuesday, November 26, and prompted the Federal Aviation Administration to conduct two temporary flights over Morris and Somerset counties. Restrictions have been issued.
The flight over New Jersey is currently under investigation by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. According to NJ.com.
Gov. Phil Murphy assured New Jersey residents last week that the object was not a threat.
New Jersey residents say they've seen dozens of these high-flying drones. Some are as big as a dining room table. witnesses told NBC New York.
The mysterious aircraft was also spotted over the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster in Dover, New Jersey, and the US Army base Picatinny Arsenal.
