FACT CHECK: Did A Drone Crash Occur In New York City On Christmas Eve 2024?

A viral video shared on X claims to show a drone that purportedly crashed in New York City on Dec. 24, 2024.

Mystery Drone Crash in New York City Sparks Global Concern

A mysterious drone crash occurred in New York City on Christmas Eve, adding to the alarming reports of multiple drone crashes worldwide on the same day. These unexplained incidents have left experts puzzled, fueling… pic.twitter.com/lqCnefDSQ4

— OANASA (@OANASA_X_) December 26, 2024

Verdict: False

The claim is false. An artificial intelligence (AI) expert denied the video’s authenticity in an email to Check Your Fact.

Fact Check:

Drones have been spotted in the U.S., including New Jersey, since November 2024, according to USA Today. Despite these sightings, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Department of Homeland Security have said the drones do not pose a national security threat, the outlet reported.

The X video, viewed over 20,000 times as of writing, claims to show a drone that purportedly crashed in New York City on Dec. 24, 2024.

In the video, multiple individuals in yellow and white safety suits appear to examine a large drone following the purported crash. The area of the crash is marked with caution tape.

“A mysterious drone crash occurred in New York City on Christmas Eve, adding to the alarming reports of multiple drone crashes worldwide on the same day. These unexplained incidents have left experts puzzled, fueling speculation about coordinated malfunctions, cyberattacks, or perhaps something more mysterious. What’s really happening with these drones?” the video’s caption reads in part.

The claim is false. Check Your Fact conducted a content detection scan using the website “TrueMedia.org,” and the results indicate the video shows “substantial evidence of manipulation.” According to the results of the same scan, AI appears to have been used to manipulate the faces of the individuals handling the drone in the video.

Likewise, Check Your Fact did not find any reference to the claim on the New York Police Department (NYPD) ‘s website or its verified social media accounts. In addition, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports to support the claim. Actually, the opposite is true. On Dec. 27, Lead Stories reported the video was AI-generated. (RELATED: Does Video Show People Firing At A Drone In New Jersey?)

Furthermore, Dr. Walter Scheirer, an AI expert at the University of Notre Dame, denied the video’s authenticity in an email to Check Your Fact.

“This video is very obviously the product of a generative AI algorithm. There are numerous irregularities present, including nonsense writing on the caution tape, seemingly randomly strung caution tape throughout the scene, an investigator wearing mismatched gloves, and, most conspicuously, a purported drone that can’t possibly fly given its complete lack of aerodynamics. The post it appears in is associated with a UFO-themed account that routinely uploads AI-generated content,” Scheirer said.

Check Your Fact has also contacted the NYPD for comment.