Mystery Drones, Government Secrecy, and Public Paranoia

This week, I joined Your Morning with Kelvin Washington on Spectrum News to break down the recent surge in mysterious drone sightings that have captivated the public and fueled a wave of speculation.

What's Behind the Hype?

Drones are nothing new, but many people rarely look up at night to see what’s actually flying overhead. As I explained, a mix of misidentification, heightened media coverage, and public curiosity has turned routine drone activity into a viral phenomenon. Some of what’s being spotted are likely just aircraft, satellites, or even legal drone operations.

However, the lack of clear explanations from government agencies has only added to public anxiety. Homeland Security, the FAA, the FBI, and the Department of Defense all have roles in overseeing drone activity, yet there’s no centralized authority capable of quickly addressing concerns. This fragmented approach to drone oversight leaves room for speculation, much like what happened with the Chinese spy balloon incident in 2023, when the government’s delayed response damaged public trust.

Military Ops or Something Else?

Could these drones be part of a secret military test? While that’s a possibility, I pointed out that truly covert operations don’t usually continue once exposed. That said, if the government were conducting an experiment to gauge public reaction to widespread drone sightings, it might explain the lack of immediate answers.

One key issue I highlighted is that most people—including law enforcement—aren’t skilled at judging altitude, speed, or size from a distance. This makes accurate identification difficult, further fueling confusion.

Ruling Out the Wildest Theories

Social media is ablaze with theories about foreign adversaries or even extraterrestrial visitors. But as I pointed out, any drones flashing red and green FAA-compliant lights are almost certainly not Chinese, Russian, or alien. If an adversary wanted to fly undetected, they wouldn’t follow U.S. aviation rules.

The only truly concerning reports are the rare cases of drones flying without lights or exhibiting unusual movement patterns. Those warrant further investigation, but for now, the vast majority of sightings likely have mundane explanations.

Until then, if you see something strange in the sky, it’s probably not time to panic—though it may be time to pour a glass of wine and join a drone-watching party.