Drones spotted over Long Island this weekend. Public, elected officials demand answers
Dozens of people called spotted drones and called police over the weekend, according to officials.
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The public and elected officials are demanding more answers and clarity after dozens of drones were reported flying over Long Island this weekend.
"They should try to figure out where they're coming from the best they can," Huntington resident Alan Weiss said.
Locations include Oyster Bay, Huntington Station, Northport, Seaford, West Babylon, Smithtown and Selden.
Suffolk County police said there was one additional report of a drone sighting over the weekend bringing the total to 17 since last Thursday, Dec. 12.
"I mean, it's an invasion of privacy in my opinion," Huntington resident Ryan Salmon said.
Nassau County Police said 57 were reported between Friday, Dec. 13 and midnight this morning.
Farmingdale State College Aviator Professor Col. Michael Canders said he is growing concerned people are now sending up personally owned drones to cause hysteria.
"This is really a safety issue," he said. "I'm very concerned about the potential for one of these unmanned aircraft systems, most colloquially known as drones, to interfere with a flight."
Gov. Kathy Hochul said the federal government is deploying a state-of-the-art drone detection system to New York State to aid investigations into drone activity.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is working to pass a bill that would give local law enforcement more tools for drone detection.
New York State Police said the drones do not threaten the public and Nassau County police believe most of the sightings are for personally owned recreational drones and not what is being reported in New Jersey.
Other Long Islanders said they aren't losing sleep over what's happening above.
"I don't see anything scary or dangerous unless someone drops something," Huntington Station resident Jordane Berry said.
"It's just another unidentified flying object as far as I'm concerned," Stony Brook resident Shaun McKendry said. "As long as it doesn't crash into my head."
VIDEO: Farmingdale State College Associate Professor of Aviation Dr. Michael Canders on the recent drone sightings
