Silent Lights Over Brushy Creek and Cat Hollow Stir Drone-Swarm Theories and FAA Scrutiny
To the point
Witnesses, including Gus McGibbon, Kyle Gomez, and Emily White, saw bright, silent lights over Brushy Creek and Cat Hollow that experts say could be a drone swarm or similar light show, with the FAA checking for a night-flight waiver and police noting no calls about the incident.
Bright, silent lights appeared Thursday night over Brushy Creek and Cat Hollow, captured on video sent to Fox7 by Gus McGibbon after he and friend Kyle Gomez were out walking. The duo described many lights together, far more striking than they appeared and unmistakably silent, which stoked questions about what they were. Emily White and a friend who were nearby admitted uncertainty about what they witnessed, joking about a close encounter while noting the lack of sound and a sense that something extraordinary might be happening, though she kept an open mind about extraterrestrial possibilities. Drone expert JeanRobertson weighed in, suggesting a drone-based phenomenon as the most likely explanation, noting how the lights could appear fixed and tight, and that lasers were unlikely since nothing they’d seen reflected off appeared to explain the effect. Drone swarms have become a notable daytime and nighttime display, she explained, with examples like showcases over Shanghai in 2020 and events in Galveston and at South by Southwest, hinting at a future where dozens or hundreds of drones light up the night sky. The discussion highlighted that it could have been a do-it-yourself drone swarm or another drone-based light show, which left observers mesmerized by the spectacle and its eerie silence. The FAA requires a waiver to fly at night, especially for swarm operations, and officials say they are checking whether any waiver was filed or granted for the night in question. Round Rock Police said they did not receive any calls about the lights, leaving the true cause unresolved as authorities review the situation.
Source: youtube.com