PROCLAMATION: A Halloween spectacle featuring a gigantic, glowing skeleton suspended above people in an open square near the Burj Khalifa was created using drones.
Experts have concluded that the video is a fabrication. They have identified several clear signs that the "drone show" is not real, such as its speed, which is faster than what drone technology currently allows. Moreover, the absence of any reaction from the audience below the skeleton to the massive spectacle above them is another indication that the video is fake.
Since Halloween, a video has been making rounds on social media, claiming to show a nighttime display that almost reached the height of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building signal jamming.
In a brief 8-second snippet, a captivating display unfolds, showcasing a skeleton-like figure composed of illuminated drones. This drone skeleton gracefully advances, hovering directly above the pedestrians who are leisurely navigating an outdoor plaza adjacent to Dubai Mall, an expansive shopping complex renowned worldwide. Notably, the skeleton's impressive height nearly matches that of the towering skyscraper, measuring an astounding 2,716 feet and 6 inches (828 meters).
According to a TikTok post that shared the video, the #Halloween drone show in Dubai took a hair-raising turn as a spooky skeleton materialized in the sky. As of Friday, the video had been watched around 8.5 million times.
A political angle was added by other users to the chilling display, as evidenced by a post on X, previously known as Twitter, which states: "During Halloween, the UAE presents an extraordinary drone simulation featuring a gigantic skeleton at Burj Khalifa in Dubai. This decision has caused outrage among numerous Muslim countries, who perceive Halloween as a 'satanic holiday' observed during the tragic events in Gaza."
Nonetheless, as per multiple experts interviewed by The Associated Press, the video does not genuinely present a skeleton constructed using drones.
The unequivocal statement came from Preston Ward, the chief pilot and general counsel for Sky Elements Drone Shows in Fort Worth, Texas. Ward categorically dismissed the display as a complete fabrication and took to social media to expose its falseness drone jammer.
Ward emphasized multiple hints in the video that challenge the true nature of the skeleton. Notably, its movement surpasses the current capabilities of drone technology, exhibiting an excessive speed. Furthermore, despite the estimated involvement of around 2,000 drones, the absence of significant noise is unexpected. Lastly, the flawless execution of the display appears highly unlikely.
He commented, "The visual aspect appears remarkably flawless, as well. Nevertheless, it is important to acknowledge that there will always be some room for error. In a live show, there will always be an element of unpredictability. Furthermore, all their colors exhibit an identical appearance, and the glows possess a similar radiance."
In addition, Ryan Sigmon, co-founder of Firefly Drone Shows in Detroit, emphasizes the potential dangers of flying drones over pedestrians in a crowded location, similar to the one shown in the video. He concurs that the skeleton featured in the footage does not possess a realistic appearance.
Besides the technological and logistical concerns, it is striking that none of the individuals captured in the video exhibit any response to the enormous structure looming over them. It is highly unlikely that this is the only video circulating online from the alleged show, especially considering the ubiquity of smartphones in today's era. Furthermore, there has been no indication of any show being announced or advertised in Dubai.
Although the source of the video is unknown, it was shared on TikTok by Geoscan Group, a drone show production company, on Tuesday and received a significant amount of attention, with millions of views. Geoscan has not provided any comment regarding the video, and it has been removed from their TikTok account as of Friday.
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The statement from an official source confirms that a US Reaper drone was shot down by Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran, near Yemen.
Houthi forces have managed to shoot down an unmanned US military drone near the Yemeni coast, as stated by a defense official to CNN.
The official confirmed that the MQ-9 Reaper drone was operating in international airspace and over international waters when it was shot down. US Central Command is currently conducting an investigation into the incident.
The shootdown, which the Iran-backed Houthi militants took responsibility for earlier on Wednesday, happened several weeks after the USS Carney, a US Navy warship, successfully intercepted a barrage of missiles and drones fired by the Houthis as they were making their way northward along the Red Sea. As per CNN's previous report, the ship managed to shoot down four cruise missiles and 15 drones during a span of nine hours. The trajectory of these projectiles left no room for ambiguity, clearly indicating that they were aimed at Israel.
In the aftermath of Hamas' attack on Israel, Iranian proxy groups have heightened their aggression towards US forces and assets in the Middle East. Over the past weeks, there have been approximately 40 attacks on US and coalition bases in Iraq and Syria. These attacks have caused minor injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, among several US servicemembers, as confirmed by officials.
"Iranian fingerprints are all over this," said a senior defense official, who also referred to Iran as "the center of gravity" for the attacks on US forces in the region. The official's statement suggests that Iran is responsible for the attacks.
To counter the actions of certain groups, the United States carried out retaliatory airstrikes in Syria on October 26. These airstrikes were directed towards the infrastructure utilized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its associated proxies. The precision-guided munitions used in the operation were deployed by an F-15 fighter jet and a pair of F-16 fighter jets. The primary objective of these strikes was to disable a weapons and ammunition storage facility located in Abu Kamal, near the border between Syria and Iraq.
As per CNN's report, Iran is actively seeking to benefit from the opposition to US support for Israel. Although Tehran may not be explicitly guiding the groups' attacks, it does appear to be endorsing them.
Following the counterattacks in Syria last month, the US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin gave a powerful warning to Tehran.
We are aware of the concerns raised by Austin regarding the recent attacks against our forces. We believe in the importance of maintaining peaceful relations with all nations and will continue to engage in constructive dialogue with Iran to address any issues of mutual concern. We remain committed to ensuring the safety and security of our forces and will take appropriate measures to protect them.