'Someone somewhere knows what's going on': Expert weighs in on drone mystery
Dec 17, 2024
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Reports of unexplained drone sightings across America have many concerned, including here in Oklahoma.
There have been reports of mysterious drones seen in the Metro.
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Sheri Rogers lives in Midwest City and said she saw a drone Thursday night.
"I have been seeing it all on the national news and it's perplexing," said Rogers. "It was bright lights and they were pulsing. They would go dim and then they would go bright. It was not an airplane because it was not moving fast, you know, It was just kind of hovering there."
Rogers says that was the first time she's ever seen an unmanned aircraft.
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"The first thing that occurred to us was that it was a drone sighting because the thing about it is, it was moving so slowly it's not like an aircraft that I've ever seen," said Rogers.
That's one reason why Governor Kevin Stitt is directing Tim Tipton, Oklahoma's Commissioner of Public Safety, to get drone detection systems for our state.
Tipton wasn't available for an interview, but said in a statement:
The activity happening in New Jersey and across the country is unsettling. While we've only had a few reports of drone activity in Oklahoma, we want to be ready in case the need arises,
Tim Tipton, Commissioner of Public Safety
Drone Instructor and expert, Chris Guarnera, said it should be easy to find out who is behind the mysterious drones if the operators are following the law.
"Every drone is required to have what's called a remote ID broadcasting, and that is sending out a signal to any essentially observer, letting them know the position and the operator of that aircraft," said Guarnera.
Guarnera said it's important to note drones are protected by federal law.
"No matter what the size is, it is irresponsible, dangerous and also extremely illegal to actually take matters in your own hands. Please do not fire upon a drone. It is actually a felony," said Guarnera.
The FBI is investigating the drone reports, the agency said out of the 5,000 tips they've received, fewer than 100 have been deemed worth investigating.