2019–20 Colorado drone sightings

Observations of mysterious drones spotted in northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska were first reported in December 2019.[1] The drones are described as having blinking lights and a wingspan of about six feet (1.8 m).[1][2] According to the Denver Post, the drones fly in groups of six to 10 and are usually seen between 7 and 10 pm.[3] The sheriff of Phillips County, Colorado described the formation as "a grid search" and stated that the size and number of drones makes it unlikely that they are being operated by hobbyists.[4] One witness in Palisade, Nebraska counted 19 drones at one time, some hovering and others flying in formations in small groups.[5] The drones fly at an altitude between 200–500 ft (61–152 m).[3][5]

Sheriffs in the affected counties have stated that the drones do not appear to be "malicious" and are not violating local laws, although the sheriff of Morgan County, Colorado has said the situation is "very unnerving for our citizens."[1][3] Flying a drone at night without a waiver from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is illegal.[6] Drone pilots also require waivers from the FAA to fly long distances, in coordinated formations,[7] or at altitudes higher than 400 feet (120 m).[8] The FAA has checked with drone companies and unmanned aircraft test sites in the area, and has confirmed that none of them are operating the drones.[1]

On January 5, 2020, The Colorado Springs Gazette reported that the U.S. Air Force confirmed that it conducts counter-drone exercises out of the Francis E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The Air Force Global Strike Command oversees Minuteman missile silos located in northeastern Colorado, southeastern Wyoming and western Nebraska, and carries out extensive testing of commercially available drones in order to defend missile silos from surveillance or attacks.[9] In an interview an airforce representative would neither claiming or deny ownership of the drones.[9] However, one reporter said that another reporter said that the base denied it when she contacted them.[7]

Allison Sylte, a reporter for 9 News in Denver, reached out to government agencies such as the U.S. Air Force, FAA, the North American Aerospace Defense Command, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Colorado Department of Transportation, all of which have denied involvement with the drone sightings. Private companies such as Google, Amazon, and Uber have also stated that they are not responsible for the drones.[10]

On January 2, Governor Jared Polis issued a statement saying "I'm actively monitoring the reports of drone sightings in eastern Colorado and share the expressed concerns of law enforcement and local residents".[11] After a drone flew within 100 feet (30 m) of a Flight for Life medical helicopter, Polis stated that the drones were "no longer a novelty," and directed the Colorado Department of Public Safety to do more state monitoring, including the use of both ground-based teams and aircraft.[12]

United States Representative Adrian Smith of Nebraska issued a press release on January 7 expressing his concern about the unidentified drones, stating "we must protect the privacy and property rights of Nebraskans."[13]

The mayor of Yuma, Colorado has proposed new laws in response to the drone sightings which would restrict the use of drones to personal property and require operators to obtain a permit to fly within the city.[12]

• List of reported UFO sightings

• Updates on Investigations into Suspicious Drone Activity in NE Colorado – Colorado Department of Public Safety
• NightDrones.Net – a website created to log locations and photos/videos of the sightings