Fleets of Mystery Drones Cause Consternation among Residents of Colorado and Nebraska

A still image from the video shot by Wyatt Harman and Chelsea Arnold. (Wyatt Harman / TODAY) — A still image from the video shot by Wyatt Harman and Chelsea Arnold. *(Wyatt Harman / TODAY)*

Authorities in a corner of rural northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska are at a loss following a series of reported mystery drones flying over several counties across the two states.

Phillips County Sheriff Thomas Elliott told the Denver Post that the drones have been flying over his county in Colorado since around December 17th.

According to Elliott, the drones fly steadily in squares of about 25 miles at an altitude of between 200 to 300 feet. So far there have been at least 17 reported drones, and they tend to come out at night between 7 pm and 10 pm.

The drones are said to have up to six-foot wingspans, strobing white lights accompanied by red, blue, and green lights, and fly too high to make any discernible noise.

“They’ve been doing a grid search, a grid pattern,” Elliott said. “They fly one square and then they fly another square.”

Sedgwick County Sheriff Carlton Britton reported the same thing happening in his area—a phenomenon he’s seen for himself.

Britton consulted with Elliott to determine if any laws are being broken, but so far none seem to be.

“We have no idea at this point,” Britton said. “No leads and no thoughts. It’s just an odd phenomenon.”

Similarly to Elliott and Britton, Washington County Sheriff Jon Stivers has received reports from concerned citizens of fleets of drones numbering between six and 30 at a time.

“It’s both weird and concerning,” he said. “It would be kind of nice to know what they’re doing.”

Lincoln County Sheriff Tom Nestor expressed concern that the drones might collide midair with other aircraft, after receiving reports in his area near the end of December.

Local sheriff's offices have been inundated with calls from concerned citizens like Wyatt Harman and Chelsea Arnold, who recently went on NBC’s TODAY show to share their sighting of the drones—complete with video.

The couple said they pursued the drones for about 15 miles as they flew above Harman's land in Washington County, Colorado, sometimes driving as fast as 70 mph in their pursuit.

"They can sit there and hover. They can descend very fast. They can take off very fast," said Harman. "It's more unnerving than anything."

So far, the U.S. Air Force, Army, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have all denied any knowledge of the drones.

The drones could belong to a private enterprise, but there’s no way to know unless the concerned party comes forward or is somehow discovered.

Drone pilots aren’t required to file flight plans, explained the FAA, unless they’re flying in controlled airspace, like the area surrounding an airport.

However, under a proposed rule change, law enforcement, federal security agencies and the FAA would be allowed to remotely identify drones that fly through their jurisdictions. The proposed rule will be open for public comment for 60 days, said the FAA in a statement.

Conspiracy theories involving Mexican drug cartels and extraterrestrial visitors have become more popular, too, as the mystery continues.

Local authorities are asking residents not to contact them unless they spot a landed drone, or if they can provide information regarding the drones’ origins. They also strongly advise against anyone attempting to shoot down a drone, since doing so is a federal offense.

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